Speakers
The VIMFF 2023 has ended and we want to give a huge thanks to our outdoor community for supporting the festival this past February / March. Please sign up to our community newsletter so that we can invite you to take part in upcoming events.
The VIMFF 2023 speaker lineup connects you with world-renowned athletes, explorers, writers and more with presentations at select in-person shows. Find out more about our speakers including Chris Burkard, Vasu Sojitra, Susan Conrad, Barry Blanchard, Meghan J. Ward and more!
Join Barry Blanchard live in conversation on the VIMFF stage after the screening of his film Spindrift. Hear stories of some of his most iconic climbs and memories from the worlds highest and most dangerous peaks, as well as some of the more often ignored, somber realities of living a life as a mountain climber and guide.
Ben is a highly accomplished award winning adventure photographer, writer, filmmaker, and polar guide who deeply loves wild places. Whether it be pioneering singletrack mountain bike routes in Greenland, climbing peaks in Garibaldi Park, or exploring the cultural side of cold water surfing, Ben strives to tell engaging, original stories with a focus on adventure and environmental stewardship.
Join Cathalynn Cindy Labonté-Smith and members of North Shore Rescue, in conversation about memorable missions in the wilds of BC. Also, Cathalynn will read from her new book, Rescue Me: Behind the Scenes of Search and Rescue.
Chris Burkard is an accomplished explorer, photographer, creative director, speaker, and author. Chris Burkard joins us on the VIMFF stage for a deep dive into his Icelandic bike adventures.
Frank Wolf is a Canadian adventurer, writer, photographer, and environmentalist. He is known for feature magazine articles and films that document wilderness expeditions around the world, with a focus on the Canadian North.
Jennifer Godbout is a backcountry split board guide, Search and Rescue Member, avalanche educator and forecaster based out of Whistler, BC. She enjoys being of service in her community and mentoring the next generation of snow scientists and big mountain riders.
Kevin Vallely is a member of the Explorer’s Club and was an Explorer’s Club Flag recipient when attempting the first single-season, human powered traverse of the Northwest Passage in 2013. He is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society.
Based in British Columbia, Levi Allen wants to help aspiring story tellers have the tools and skills to make films they can actually be proud of. Lately he's created a lot of solo shot winter pieces for his YouTube channel but also loves the challenge of an outdoor documentary.
Lynn’s Stories of Ice will immerse you in the fascinating world of our ancient, mesmerizing, and very precious glaciers, while sharing knowledge about their present state, and their future.
Malin Ek is passionate about endurance adventures in the mountains. She holds course records and podium finishes in the ultra-running world. She loves ski touring, scrambling mountains, climbing and mountain biking.
Mark Sky is an endurance athlete competing in the Adventure Racing World Series and Eco Challenge: World’s Toughest Race. Mark is a co-founder of the Outdoor Adventurers Club which uses adventure to raise money for charities and the environment.
Megan started climbing in the UK in the 90s where her trail running started as a “last person back buys a round at the pub” and she has been fell running (as its called in UK)/trail running ever since. Back then there weren’t many official races, and virtually no women doing these activities.
Meghan J. Ward is an outdoor, travel and adventure writer based in Banff, Canada, a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, and the author of Lights to Guide Me Home. She will be joining the VIMFF 2023 as a speaker for the Adventure Travel Show and for the Workshop: Adventure Writing.
Michael Brown has excelled as an adventure athlete and filmmaker in his career. He has been to the summit of Mount Everest five times, each time with cameras rolling. His work as a director and cinematographer covering adventure sports, including caving, kayaking, and mountain climbing, spans all seven continents.
Sea kayaking the Inside Passage is Susan Conrad's jam, having completed two approximately 1,200-mile solo through-paddles from Washington State to SE Alaska. She has authored three books about the Inside Passage and loves sharing her personal stories on stages big and small.
Suzan Beraza is a Hispana-Latina-American filmmaker and was born and raised in the Caribbean. Her films have been shown on Netflix, Independent Lens, PBS, BBC, World Channel, FranceTV and on the Documentary Channel, at Lincoln Center, and at many festivals.
Join Vasu Sojitra live in conversation on the VIMFF stage as he discusses his approach and philosophy to the outdoors.
Will Stanhope has been climbing for most of his life. Some of his most memorable ascents in the Bugaboos include a free ascent of the Tom Egan Memorial Route, a link up of all the three Howser Towers with Leo Houlding, and the first free solo of the East Face of Snowpatch Spire.
