The competition attracted 39 entries from throughout the world - about half from New Zealand.
Director for the Wanaka-based festival Mark Sedon was filmed riding his bike from Lake Hawea to Breast Hill, before climbing the hill and paragliding off its peak, in 30 minutes of raw footage dubbed "A Carbon-Free Adventure", which entrants then edited into a three-minute film.
Mr Sedon said he knew of other film-editing competitions, but the adventure element was a new concept.
Competition judges have narrowed down the edited entries to 10, eight of which are from New Zealand competitors - including five from Wanaka.
"Wanaka film editors have stepped up, which was awesome to see really. When we were judging them, we didn't know where they were from; we just judged them on the merits of the film."
People attending next weekend's film festival - now in its ninth year - will vote for their favourite edited film during a screening of the finalists' entries at 4pm on Sunday, July 3, before the winner is announced and awarded $US1000 on the following Tuesday, the last day of the festival.
The five-day festival programme will also screen 65 film finalists from its international film-makers competition, including two world premiers, on topics including skiing, rock and ice climbing, mountaineering, adventure racing, base jumping and environmental topics.
Speakers will include world-class rock climber, mountaineer, author and filmmaker Greg Child, of US and Australia, adventure racer Debbie Chambers, of Auckland, Lake Hawea mountaineer Lydia Bradey, snow sports photographer Steve Eastwood and New Zealand hard man Steve Gurney.
"What really makes the Wanaka festival stand out is the speakers. It gives it so much character and people are just buzzing after the talks," Mr Sedon said.
A world-record dyno attempt (a climbing wall jumping competition), workshops, art displays, live music and an adventure trade show round out the programme.
