Listen wins Banff’s grand prize with an Alaskan sound portrait
The short documentary Listen has won the Banff Mountain Film Competition’s grand prize. Taliesin Black-Brown’s film follows Alaskan author Hank Lentfer recording natural sounds while caring for his mother, who has dementia. The award was announced as the Canadian festival ended, with online screenings of most winning films to follow in November.
Arts··Evening
Listen receives the Canadian festival’s top award
The Banff Mountain Film Competition in Alberta, Canada, awarded its grand prize to Listen, a documentary directed by Taliesin Black-Brown.[1], [2]
The 15-minute American production follows Alaskan writer Hank Lentfer. He records sounds in the natural world while looking after his mother, who has dementia. Sam Davis is the film’s producer, which receives 5,000 Canadian dollars with the prize. Its earlier recognition includes the Tribeca Festival’s grand jury award; New York Times Op-Docs subsequently acquired it.[1]
The competition draws films from 59 countries
Awards were announced on November 8, the closing evening of the 51st Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival. The event had opened on October 31. The competition received 610 submissions from 59 countries and selected 83 finalists representing 16 countries. The festival included 12 world premieres, 24 North American premieres and 20 Canadian premieres. Across 10 categories, prizes totalled 30,000 Canadian dollars, with the grand prize awarded separately.[1]
Winning films continue online and on tour
Most winning films will be screened online from November 12–22 for audiences in Canada and the United States. A selection also joins the festival’s annual world tour, which reaches more than 45 countries through over 1,000 screenings each year. The adventure award went to Jordan Manley’s The Navigator, while Banchi Hanuse’s Ceremony won the feature-film category.[1]
