Yellowknife (Jan 19/07) - Starting tonight, Yellowknife will be treated to a selection of adventurous films from the far reaches of the world.

The Banff Mountain Film Festival returns to the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre this weekend for two nights of rock-climbing, tiger-wrangling and pan-continental-biking fun - most coming from locales you might not expect.

Films for Friday, Jan. 19 -Asiemut -The Best of Jo -Exploring the Mother of Waters -First Ascent: Thailand -Kids Who Rip -Ride of the Mergansers -Unchained: New World -Disorder VI -Yes to the No Films for Saturday, Jan. 20 -Aweberg -Cobra Crack -Conflict Tiger -Quebec Givre (Crazy Quebec) -Roam -The Simplicity Factor -The Thrill Seekers

"There's something for anybody with an interest in the outdoors and the environment," said organizer Sandra Stirling.

This variety of films will take viewers from the far east of Russia to the rivers of Tibet; from a horizontal bike trip across Asia to a vertical free climbing trip up a mountain in B.C.

Stirling said she is most excited about films that won awards at the original festival in November. These include grand prize winner Conflict Tiger, and Asiemut, which won the People's Choice award.

Conflict Tiger deals with the effect poaching has on tigers in Siberia, prompting several attacks on humans. Asiemut, meanwhile, follows an incredible 8,000 kilometre bike trek across Asia.

"From years gone by, the films that win awards are usually quite significant," she said. "They knock your socks off."

The film festival has been coming to Yellowknife every year for more than a decade, sponsored by Blachford Lake Lodge and Overlander Sports (which Stirling co-owns). She said the event is great promotion for both companies.

"We like to do it because it's fun too," Stirling added. "Everyone really enjoys it."

Aside from the award winners, the film fest features a total of 16 films, with two different lineups playing tonight and tomorrow.

"We have ice climbing films, base jumping films, mountain bike films...," Stirling said. "There's lots of variety."

The Banff Mountain Film Festival runs tonight and tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at NACC.