New Zealand Mountain Film Festival director Mark Sedon said the event had avoided all the lockdowns, while online technology had been a saviour for those not inclined or able to watch 63 films in one big sitting.
"We have been very lucky for the last three years.
"The festival fell between three lockdowns and we were able to pull off live events.
"But we did set up the online festival as well and that has allowed us to get into people’s homes all over the country and in Australia, and that’s saved us because of the limitations of event size," he said.
Covid had also meant adventurers set aside more time to tell their stories, resulting in more book entries and higher quality film productions, he said.
In the rash of new books hitting the market was Mr Sedon’s own, first attempt at self-publishing.
His memoirs, What Could Possibly Go Wrong, will be launched at the festival.
While book entries had increased and film quality improved, there had been a slight drop-off in film entries, Mr Sedon said.
"We got 150 entries this year, which was about 60 or 70 less than our average."
Reaching the 20th festival was a good feeling, he said.
"We know what we are doing after 20 years."
Now the event is a registered charity, employs seven staff, shows for nine days across Wanaka and Queenstown and gives back to the community with free shows for children, grants and donations.
"It is recognised around the world, is part of the International Alliance of Mountain Film and we have been responsible for bringing some great speakers out from around the world."
The grand prize of $US1000 has been awarded to House of the Gods, by director Matt Pycroft, of the United Kingdom.
Pryor and British climber Leo Houlding undertook an ambitious climb on a big wall in the Amazonian rainforest with two indigenous Akawaio people, who live at the base of the sacred Mt Roraima.
The Nankervis/Bamford Mountain Book of the Year prize of $2000 went to writer and editor Shaun Barnett this year, for Across the Pass.
Barnett will be speaking as well as teaching an adventure writing course.
The event also includes a range of world and New Zealand premieres and speakers, including UK climber Paul Pritchard, Tania Bottomley, of Lake Hawea, and Christchurch alpinist Alastair McDowell.
The NZ Mountain Film Festival runs in Wanaka and Queenstown from June 24 to 29 and online from June 24 to July 24.
2022 New Zealand Mountain Film Festival Winners
Grand prize: House of The Gods, director Matt Pycroft, United Kingdom.
Hiddleston/Macqueen Award — Best NZ Made: Traversing the Night, director Maddy Whittaker, New Zealand.
Snow sports: O Parizad director Guillaume Pierrel, France.
Adventurous sports and lifestyles: Fly Monarca director Benjamin Jorda, Canada.
Short film: Follow The Light director Pierre Henni, France.
Mountain culture: Breaking Trail director Jesse Roesler, United States.
Epic edit: The Long Way Home directors Rebecca Wardell and Whitney Oliver, New Zealand.
Cinematography: The Great Alpine Highway 73, directors Fin Woods, Chris Maunsell and Craig Murray, New Zealand.
Spirit of adventure: We Don't Usually Have Ice Creams, director Paul McCredie, New Zealand.
Environment: A White Dream, director Mathieu Le Lay, France.
Self-filmed: Njord directors Caroline Cote, Arnaud Bouquet and Vincent Colliard, Canada.
Climbing: Link Sar director Graham Zimmerman, United States.
The festival
Wanaka screenings: June 24-29
Queenstown screenings: June 30-July 2
Online: June 24-July 24
Speakers: eight
Films being screened: 63
World premieres: 12
New Zealand premieres: 36
