Freeride Filmfestival 2023

This year’s Freeride Film Festival (FFF) is themed “Forever Ride” and covers a wide range of topics from relentless ski action and the female cycle, through playful dystopia and wordless beauty, to Arctic adventures and a snowboarding film about the magic of carving.

The Freeride Film Festival celebrates its premiere on November 3, 2023, in Kaprun, Austria. Additional live shows will follow afterwards in Austria, Switzerland, and Germany. The six films will also be shown in more than 50 cinemas across Europe.

Difficult Choice When Selecting the Six Films

“It’s fascinating how many top-notch productions vied for an FFF spot this year. Among the more than 50 submissions, there were about 20 real highlights – we’ve never had such a tough time selecting the films,” says Harry Putz, co-organizer of the largest Freeride Film Festival in Europe. “After long and intense discussions, we’ve chosen six outstanding films that perfectly capture our zeitgeist with their themes and approaches. What impressed us the most was the unwavering passion of all the protagonists and the creative and individual execution. We’ve filtered out the slogan ‘FOREVER RIDE’ as the common thread for all productions.”

In “THE BLONDES,” three ski-crazy friends from Canada and Norway want nothing more than to ski – “showcasing the most epic lines and the most hardcore freeride action ever seen from women in a film, both technically and in terms of stunning cinematography,” explains Volker Hölzl, the second co-organizer of the FFF. Also, in the sensitively staged production “CYCLES,” exclusively female freeriders take the stage. Alongside exquisite powder and freestyle shots, they openly and honestly discuss the transformative power of their menstrual cycle and how they handle it in their sport.

In the timeless snowboard film “LEFT RIGHT,” the focus is solely on carving, but director Samuel McMahon portrays it so brilliantly that it takes your breath away. In search of the perfect turn, the filmmaker encounters cool characters like France’s freestyle legend Mathieu Crepel and visits dreamlike locations, from the Alps to Japan. In “22 HØURS,” the South Tyrolean brothers Matthias and Jakob Weger embark on a journey to the Norwegian Lyngen Alps, 350 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. Despite extreme weather conditions, they are seeking their Arctic Dreamline.

With minimal words but incredibly impressive visuals, the last two films shine. “PROJECTION” creates a “Lost Places” atmosphere in the best arthouse style: a team of skiers and snowboarders indulge in playfulness in the abandoned facilities and landscapes of former ski resorts, subtly addressing pressing issues like climate change and capitalist exploitation. In “PURITY,” director Lukas Schäfer creates a wonderfully meditative journey from darkness to light, from solitude to togetherness. Nature takes the lead, and snowboarder Gabriel Indrist & Friends deliver outstanding athletic performances in supporting roles. The film manages perfectly without a single spoken word.

Dates and Tickets

This year, the Freeride Film Festival (FFF) will reach even more people. In addition to the established Prime Tour with 10 live events in Austria, Switzerland, and Germany from November 3 to November 18, 2023, there is also the Cinema Edition this year, where the FFF will be shown in about 50 cinemas across Europe starting November 19, 2023. As usual, the Prime Tour will feature live moderation on stage at each location, as well as interviews with the athletes and filmmakers. There will also be a dedicated Meet & Greet area where attendees can interact personally with the protagonists.

The Cinema Edition offers on-screen moderation and reduced admission prices. “With this second track of the festival, we want to reach even more people with our unique program and become more international overall,” explains Volker Hölzl. “We are working not only with cinemas in the DACH region but also in Italy, Slovakia, and the Benelux countries. In total, there are about 50 locations.”

Prime Tour Shows

11/3 20:00 – 23:00 ZELL AM SEE / KAPRUN, Burg Kaprun
11/9 19:00 – 22:00 INNSBRUCK, Metropol Kino
11/10 19:00 – 22:00 ZÜRICH, blue Cinema Abaton
11/11 19:00 – 22:00 ENGELBERG, Kursaal
11/12 19:00 – 22:00 SCHRUNS, Kulturbühne
11/13 19:00 – 22:00 STUTTGART, Gloria Kino
11/14 19:00 – 22:00 FREIBURG / BREISGAU, Bürgerhaus Seepark
11/15 19:30 – 22:30 MÜNCHEN, Mathäser Filmpalast
11/16 20:00 – 23:00 WIEN, Gartenbaukino

Check out the official website for further details on shows, dates and tickets > www.freeride-filmfestival.com.