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A cyclist jumps off a cliff and does a backflip. Skiers rappel down from a zeppelin. A woman powers her way up a super-difficult highball bouldering route that ends 15 meters above the ground. A man crosses the imposing Himalayan massif alone… The list of films at the E.O.F.T. is as long as it is varied. I attended a screening in Munich in early December and am sharing my favorite films from the European Outdoor Film Tour 2019/2020.
The E.O.F.T. tours Germany
Since October 2019, the European Outdoor Film Tour has once again been showing the best outdoor films and adventure documentaries. The premiere was completely sold out, and tickets for some upcoming dates are already gone. The E.O.F.T. is one of Germany's most popular outdoor film festivals.
There's a screening in Munich on the first Sunday in December. After spending the whole week in the Alps myself, a cozy afternoon at the movies is just what I need. I can simply sit back, marvel at other people's outdoor adventures and find inspiration.
What's it all about?
The auditorium at the Alter Kongress in Munich is packed. A murmur of conversation fills the air. Then the lights go out and the images on the screen come to life.
A soothing voice in "Return to Earth" tells us to use our time wisely and focus on what really matters. At the same time, mountain bikers thunder across the screen. They perform spectacular tricks, ride through steeply banked turns, jump over huge drops and race down vertical slopes. I grip the armrests. Incredible.
After that fast-paced start, I'm completely drawn in and captivated. I watch spellbound as Nina Williams conquers the bouldering route "Too Big to Flail" . The wall is smooth as glass. Nina slips her fingers into cracks I can't even see with the naked eye. Something that would be impossible for me. Another fascinating story is that of Sarah McNair-Landry. The 33-year-old is an experienced polar explorer who has already crossed Greenland and reached both polar ice caps under her own power.
Next, things are less snowy but fast-paced again in Rwanda. The story of roller skater Abdul Karim Habyarimanatakes place in the capital, Kigali. He handles his inline skates like no one else, and in his classes he not only shares technical tips but also helps his students build confidence.
In the winter sports section, three skiers rappel down from a zeppelin in the Alps . You really need a head for heights for that. But the film Lhotse takes us even higher. Two athletes climb the world's fourth-highest mountain and make the first ski descent of the Lhotse Couloir.
But can a love of winter sports be reconciled with conservation and treating the environment responsibly? German professional snowboarder Elias Elhardt raises this question and questions his own passion. It gets the audience thinking, too.
My favorite
My favorite, though, is the film titled "Le Minimaliste – an Himalayan Adventure". Eliott Schonfeld crosses the Himalayas with very little luggage. At first he's accompanied by his horse Robert, then he continues alone with even less equipment. He meets locals, reaches his physical limits on mountain passes and becomes more and more of a minimalist as the adventure unfolds.
The star of this gripping film was even there in person. To applause from everyone at the Alter Kongress, he takes the stage and explains how he prepared for the expedition. Not by exercising, he says; he hates exercise. Instead, he ate lots of cake back home in France to put on weight that he could lose again in the cold and at altitude. How endearing!
And here's something else to think about. How much would I have needed on an expedition like that? Setting off without a warm sleeping bag seems impossible to me. But Eliot shows that it can be done. He also shows that you don't need expensive outdoor clothing to get by. During the second half of the adventure, he keeps warm in a homemade vest made from goat hides he bartered for at a market.
Join in until February 5, 2020
If you'd like to experience the E.O.F.T. for yourself, there are plenty more tour stops. From Rosenheim and Oberstdorf all the way up to Wilhelmshaven and Lübeck, there are screening venues all over Germany. There's bound to be one near you, too.
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 | Is the E.O.F.T. coming to your city too? Find out now and get your tickets. |
As its name suggests, the European Outdoor Film Tour isn't just shown in Germany. Tickets are also available in Denmark, Belgium, France, the United Kingdom as well as Belarus, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Norway as well as Sweden, Slovenia, Austria and Switzerland .