Salzburg festival brings mountain films and debate to four venues
Wednesday 11th November 2026 on 16:15 in
Austria
The 32nd International Mountain Film Festival Salzburg runs from 11 to 22 November, with films, talks and discussions at four venues across the province, ORF reported.
The opening programme features filmmaker Johannes Aitzetmüller, who will discuss working in extreme conditions in the Arctic, Antarctica, Siberia, Pakistan and the Alps. Polar traveller Birgit Lutz will speak about life in eastern Greenland and the challenges facing a region in change. Lutz has reached the North Pole twice on skis and crossed Greenland.
Other events will cover expeditions in the Andes and western Nepal, as well as achievements in high-altitude mountaineering. Nepalese climber Phunjo Jhangmu Lama is expected to attend the world premiere of her film at Salzburg film centre DAS KINO.
A panel on 14 November at 6 p.m. at DAS KINO will examine social media’s influence on mountaineering. Festival director Martin Hasenöhrl said striking online photos and videos are helping draw large crowds to well-known mountain regions, while social networks have also become important for professional athletes seeking sponsors.
GPS data, digital tour reports and up-to-date weather and avalanche information can help people plan mountain trips, the festival says. But following unverified routes found online can be dangerous for inexperienced climbers. The panel will include professional mountaineer Andy Holzer, mountain guide and blogger Susanne Kraft, professional climber Mich Kemeter, content creator Bettina Brunauer and alpine journalist Georg Bayerle. Admission is free, but reservations are required.
The festival will also look at the future of alpine pasture farming, with films on the role of pastures for people and nature and the daily work of herders. A photo exhibition about the Wildalm pasture above Neukirchen am Großvenediger in the Pinzgau region will show how a young association hopes to create new opportunities for traditional alpine life.
The venues are DAS KINO and OVAL at the Europark in Salzburg, KUNSTHAUS NEXUS in Saalfelden in the Pinzgau region, and KINO IM TURM in Radstadt in the Pongau region. The full programme and tickets are available at daskino.at.