8 Must-See Film Festivals for Adventure Lovers

Ever wondered what it’s like to solo a remote river? Climb a big wall in Yosemite? Huck a double-backflip on skis? Or maybe your outdoor dreams are of the more accessible variety: like taking your first wilderness canoe trip, or competing in a local adventure race. These film festivals now screening across Ontario feature stories that will resonate with adventurers of all stripes—grab the popcorn and prepare to be inspired!

Banff Mountain Film Festival

The Banff Mountain Film Festival is an international film competition and annual presentation of short films and documentaries about mountain culture, sports, and the environment. The World Tour brings all the excitement of the festival to audiences around the globe.

Find an upcoming screening in Ontario:

Orillia, ON

January 9-10, 2026
Sojourn Outdoors

Owen Sound, ON

January 9-10, 2026
Suntrail Source for Adventure

Cobourg, ON

January 14, 2026
Concert Hall at Victoria Hall

Kingston, ON

January 15-17, 2026
Trailhead

Peterborough, ON

January 15-16, 2026
Wild Rock Outfitters

Waterloo, ON

January 20-21, 2026
Princess Cinemas

Huntsville, ON

January 21-22, 2026
Algonquin Theatre

Sudbury, ON

January 23-24, 2026
All Nations Church

Thunder Bay, ON

January 25, 2026
Thunder Bay Community Centre

Ottawa, ON

January 26-27, 2026
Trailhead Paddleshack

Sault Ste. Marie, ON

January 28, 2026
Sault Community Theatre Centre

Hamilton, ON

January 29, 2026
Westdale Secondart School

North Bay, ON

February 5-6, 2026
Capitol Centre

London, ON

March 10-12, 2026
Wolf Performance Hall at London Public Library

Toronto, ON

March 21-22, 2026
TIFF Lightbox

See full list of tour stops and dates.

Paddling Film Festival World Tour

Since 2006, the Paddling Film Festival World Tour has been showcasing the very best paddling films to audiences around the world. The festival aims to inspire more people to explore rivers, lakes, and oceans, push physical and emotional extremes, embrace the paddling lifestyle, and appreciate the heritage of the wild places we paddle.

Find an upcoming screening in Ontario:

Toronto, ON (Premiere)

January 22, 2026
The Complete Paddler

Owen Sound, ON

March 13, 2026
Suntrail Source for Adventure

Parry Sound, ON

March 22, 2026
White Squall

Hamilton, ON

March 25, 2026
Playhouse Cinema

Waterloo, ON

March 26, 2026
Princess Cinema

Meaford, ON

April 10, 2026
Meaford Hall Arts & Culture Centre

Barrie, ON

April 14, 2026
Barrie Canoe and Kayak Club

Brockville, ON

May 6, 2026
Northern Latitudes

Thunder Bay, ON

May 7, 2026
Dragons of Hope Thunder Bay

Huntsville, ON

June 11, 2026
Algonquin Theatre

Peterborough, ON

November 7, 2026
The Canadian Canoe Museum

See a full list of tour stops and dates.

Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival

The Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival (VIMFF) is an annual international 10-day community festival featuring mountain film screenings, live multimedia presentations, photography exhibitions, workshops, seminars and other special events. Each year, the VIMFF World Tour takes award-winning and other selected films on tour across Canada and beyond.

The 2026 program will be announced in late January, with tour dates and locations to follow.

Waterwalker Film Festival

The Waterwalker Film Festival, begun by the legendary Bill Mason in 1987, is Canada’s longest-running paddling film festival. It is now organized by Paddle Canada and continues to feature the best paddling films, from extreme waterfalls to epic canoe voyages across the continent. The premiere takes place in November each year.

Planet in Focus International Environmental Film Festival

Canada’s largest environmental film festival, Planet in Focus celebrated 26 years in 2025. The six-day festival showcases engaging and artistic films that question, explore and tell stories about the world in which we live—using film as a catalyst for public awareness, discussion, and engagement on a broad range of environmental issues. The festival takes place in September each year, with the 2026 dates yet to be announced.

Reel Rock Film Tour

The Reel Rock Film Tour brings the best climbing and adventure films of the year to audiences throughout the world. 2026 will be RR20 and films have yet to be announced. Typically the program for the year is announced in March or April.

Adventure Film Fest

The Adventure Film Fest is new in 2026 and is part of the Hamilton Adventure Expo. A curated program of short films will be played, followed by an exclusive Q&A with filmmakers and meet and greets. 

Hamilton, ON

January 23, 2026
Westdale Theatre

Elora Adventure Film Festival

Now accepting entries for the 2026 festival in the fall, the Elora Adventure Film Festival aims to showcase films involving regular people doing extraordinary things. Last year's festival featured 22 films from 13 countries.

Elora, ON

November 5-8, 2026
The Gorge Cinema, Elora Centre for the Arts & St. John's Anglican Church

Showing 'Edited Body' is no longer supported.