T

he Palma Muntanya Film Festival presents its 16th edition between October 18-28, featuring a top selection of mountain-related films, as well as a series of talks around important issues in the field of hiking, trekking and climbing. Since its first edition 10 years ago - led by Ferran Toloso Cabani, who passed away in August – the film festival has grown exponentially, particularly within the last five years, demonstrating its international scope and comprehensive program that includes special juried prizes. This year, the jury received over 450 submissions, from which the festival will include twenty films from eleven different countries, with twelve of these films part of the competitive section. Four of these films have never before been screened in Spain. 

Each of the films, most of which are documentary, but not all, have at their core, a theme around human experience in the face of nature. Whether directly connected to hiking or mountaineering or to stories of community, climate change or personal ambition, the films reflect the challenges, emotions, extremes and fears that are felt within these moments. Highlights include a film about Sophie Lavaud, who has climbed 13 of the highest mountains on Earth and is one summit away from the Himalayan Grand Slam. This documentary by François Damilano immerses us in this niche world of high-altitude mountaineering - brings us into Lavaud’s extreme challenge.