Session 1: Opening Night

We open the 2026 festival with an extraordinary lineup — from a 10-year-old mastering her skating trick to families sleeping on El Capitan, cyclists braving Iceland’s wintery Ring Road carrying skis, and climbers enduring Colorado winters. Two world premieres celebrate Aoraki itself: a silent Ball Pass crossing and the first ski descent of its fearsome East Face. Spanning continents, disciplines and generations, tonight’s eight films share one beating heart — the irresistible pull of wild places and the people who answer the call.