Many Activities Featured at Utah's High Adventure Film Festival Sept. 18 -21, 2008

OGDEN, UT - Utah's High Adventure Mountain Film Festival, September 18-21, showcases high adventure activities with films, parties, awards and special panels in Historic Downtown Ogden.

Films range from rock climbing and ice climbing, to extreme skiing and snowboarding, and other mountain-sport categories. The "Above the Summit" category will highlight films featuring people who participate in the sports with disabilities. This category also features people who are positively involved in the community. The "Show Your Shorts" category consists of amateur film makers showing off their mountain sports films that are 20 minutes or less in duration. An international panel of judges will choose the best films from each category. Awards will be given to the top film in each category as well as the best film of the festival.

Films being premiered at Utah's High Adventure Mountain Film Fest include:

"White Water Jungle" - Tom Tatum's film stars kayaker Matt Wilson who traveled into uncharted territory in Madagascar to film first and second descents of rivers never before seen by kayak.

"Go Wild! Outside Las Vegas" - Doug Robinson's invitation to get out of town and explore the desert. There's rock climbing, only 20 minutes from The Strip at Red Rocks and beautiful hiking with the surprise of a lush oasis and a band of bighorn sheep. Nearby are dedicated mountain bike trails, which lead to the tantalizing thought of exploring further into Nevada.

"Crank it Up! The White Rim Adventure"- A new documentary by Mark Wellman features three paraplegics, hand-peddling specialized adapted mountain bikes, the One-Off, on one of the most rugged and forbidding mountain bike trails in the world, The White Rim Trail in Canyonlands National Park, Utah.

"Shake that Bear" - Chris Alstrin will be presenting his new film about climbers Rob Pizem and Mike Anderson wrestling with an epic offwidth crack climb in Zion National Park.

There will also be three panel-discussions featuring different high adventure topics. Discussions include:

Strong Women - Friday 9/19 4-6pm - Ogden Eccles Conference Center

Featuring the following strong women:

• Jennifer Jordan, author of Savage Summit and director of the film, Women of K2
• Kelly Perkins, heart transplant recipient who climbs mountains that few thought possible
• Margo Talbot, competitive Ice Climber
• Ali Geiser, book editor and Climber

Above the Summit - Saturday 9/20 11:00am - 1:00pm Ogden Eccles Conference Center

Featuring the following individuals:

• Chris Waddell, the most decorated male skier in Paralympics’ history
• Malcolm Daly, Executive Director of Paradox Sports and amputee climber
• Mark Wellman two-time Paralympian, nationally acclaimed author, filmmaker and motivational speaker
• Warren McDonald, adventurer, author and motivational speaker and double amputee
• Kelly Perkins, inspirational climber and twelve year veteran of a heart transplant
• Jeff Lowe Executive Director of Ogden Climbing Parks and world class climber now dealing with Multiple Sclerosis

Preserving the Crags (Mountain Environmental Sustainability) - Sunday 9/21 11:00am - 1:00pm Ogden Eccles Conference Center

Featuring the following individuals:

• Jeff Lowe Executive Director of Ogden Climbing Parks and world class climber
• Doug Robinson, author, filmmaker, environmentalist
• Representatives from the outdoor industry, the Forest Service, Ogden City, and other interested stake holders

The Festival kicks off with screenings and special guests Thursday 6:00pm to 7:30pm at the Peery's Egyptian Theater. Then the opening party, "Filmmaker's Bash," begins at 7:00pm at the Ogden Amphitheater on historic 25th Street. Food will be provided by Peddlers, Roosters, and Union Grill. Entertainment will be provided by Dan Welden and the "Bastard Redheads," a local Ogden band who has made a national name for themselves.

For more information about the Gala Awards Dinner and the Lowe MAX Award and more visit: www.utahadventurefest.org or call 801-392-9181.

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CONTACTS:

Deanna Byck, Festival Director, 801.392-9181, deanna@ogdenclimbingparks.com

Jeff Lowe, Executive Director Ogden Climbing Parks 801-392-9181

For media requests, logos & photos contact:

Power Media Group, 801.627-0430, info@powermedia.us

UHAMFF Blog is now up!!!

Welcome to the Utah High Adventure Mountain Film Festival blog. Over the next few weeks you will be able to see new comments from people who are and will be participating in the festival. There is a lot of exciting things happening for us this year. Even though this is our first annual festival, we have been planning this event for well over two years. We know that you will not be disappointed. Thank you for all your help and support.

Don't forget to check out our sponsors and help us show them our appreciation by supporting their businesses. Film selections will be posted soon, so be sure to keep checking back for all the updates.