Tahoe Adventure Film Festival begins at home Dec. 11, expands with western states tour

The 2015 Tahoe Adventure Film Festival debuts at its birthplace this month at Stateline on the south shore of Lake Tahoe and will expand to places far and wide into the new year.

Marking 13 years of adventure sports cinematography and culture, Tahoe Adventure Film Festival is the annual gathering of the who’s who of outdoor adventure set in a hypnotic theatrical show of go-go dancers, DJs, and dramatic action imagery. It’s where the industry’s best filmmakers premier their latest adventure sports films one night only hosted by festival creator and swashbuckler, Todd Offenbacher.

The launch event, and where it all began, will be Friday, Dec. 11, 2015 at MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. followed by the films at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the MontBleu ticket office, by calling 775.588.3515, or at MontBleuResort.com.

An annual tradition, TAFF celebrates the adventure sports community with newly released films of daring exploits and epic adventures in some of the most remote places and harsh conditions that test the human spirit.

Filmmakers capture the power and intensity of skiing, snowboarding, kayaking, rock climbing, surfing, mountain biking, BASE jumping and other heart pounding sports that feed our addiction to adventure. Many of the segments are special edits including previews of films that have not been released.

This year, the festival will include three special edits that highlight the importance of decision making that all adventurers must face. These films delve into the mindset of the adventurer and how each athlete deals with assessing risk during every outing, making judgments about the consequences of pushing the limit.

“On the Fence” by Chris McNamara, climber and SuperTopo author, is a self examination of some close calls that caused Mac to stop BASE jumping. "Reach for the Sky" by filmmaker Ryan Cleek chronicles the fast paced career and ambition that catapulted Cam Zink into pro-mountain biker status and how Cam has chosen to balance it with family life. “The Unrideables” by Red Bull Media is a masterpiece of the high stakes involved in Speedriding that combines skiing and parachute flight to access terrain that would otherwise be inaccessible.

Along with the films, audiences are kept on the edge of their seats in anticipation of the next recipient of the coveted Golden Camalot for 2015. For the past 10 years, Offenbacher has presented the Golden Camalot to honor action and adventure sports pioneers for their astounding contributions, excellence, achievements, and leadership that have shaped so many lives and defined our culture. Past recipients include Royal Robbins, Tommy Caldwell, Glen Plake, Fred Beckey, Jeremy Jones, Alex Honnold, Steve Wampler, Hatchett Brothers, Corey Rich, Doug Stoup, and Robb Gaffney.

Offenbacher, TAFF founder and host of Outside Television, is part of this elite group of daredevils. The festival is an extension of Todd’s passionate nature and life of adventure full of challenges that helps him excel in all areas of life with greater clarity. “I’ve traveled the globe to ski, climb, and explore where I’ve met so many likeminded people living the same dream,” says Offenbacher. “This festival comes from my heart and soul, and represents the collective passion and lessons learned to inspire everyone to pursue their dreams with gusto.”

A gigantic raffle to raise money for the Sierra Avalanche Center includes season ski passes to Lake Tahoe resorts, a Points North Heli-Ski trip, Stay and Ski packages, and enough gear to stock any adventurer’s garage.

Beginning in January, Offenbacher takes his show on the road to Petaluma, Park City, Jackson Hole, San Francisco, Mammoth, Reno, and Minden to ordain new converts to a life filled with adventure.

2016 Tahoe Adventure Film Festival Western U.S. Tour
Petaluma, CA - Jan 29, 2016
Park City, UT - Feb13, 2016
Jackson Hole, WY - Feb 15, 2016
San Francisco, CA - Feb 18, 2016
Mammoth, CA - Mar 3-5, 2016
Reno, NV - Mar 2016
Minden, NV - Apr 2016

For more information and to find tickets for all TAFF shows, visit www.LakeTahoeFilmFestival.com.