For one night only this week, the New Zealand Alpine Club hosts the annual Banff extravaganza, dedicated to some of the world's best footage of mountain pursuits.
The Banff Mountain Film festival is not all ponytailed dudes giving each other the high-five.
Rather, the festival is synonymous with great scenery spread across an abundance of disciplines, from mountain-biking and skiing, through to rock-climbing and base-jumping.
According to organiser David Seath, the films selected provide a wonderful mix of culture and adrenaline.
Last year's screening at the Regent holds the record for the largest attendance at a single Banff screening outside the United States.
The Otago Alpine Club is not resting on its laurels.
Armed with giveaways and an abseiling host, the club hopes attendance at the 2009 screening will not only eclipse last year, it will set a record for the largest single attendance anywhere.
To do this, the organisers want to maintain an element of surprise, but word has it that at this year's screening a hang-glider and portable hot pool might be on offer, along with spot prizes.
Among the films on offer the highlight of the night will undoubtedly be the feature Journey to the Centre.
Consistently voted the audience favourite at Banff screenings, the 55-minute documentary follows three base-jumpers as they travel deep into China.
The culmination of their journey is an almighty leap of faith into Tien Keng, a limestone sinkhole nearly a kilometre deep.
- Mark Orton
