Every year we sit eagerly at our desks waiting to see what new events might pop up and this year we have been blown away by some of the stories, locations and people who have come on board with our slightly unusual festival !

We are on track to have more screenings than ever before and with a following wind we might just pip last year's fund-raising effort of £20,000 - check out our 2026 Films to see what all the fuss is about.

If any of this looks good to you it's not too late (if you're quick) to GET INVOLVED and host your own Community Adventure Film Night.

First up - Holly and Garett Graubins from Minnesota!

— the enthusiastic adventure duo bringing the London Mountain Film Festival out of their living room and into the heart of their local community in Victoria, Minnesota.

Long-time household pass holders, Holly and Garett decided this year was the moment to go all in and host a community screening. “These films give us so much mojo,” they say. “After watching, we’re usually straight into plotting our next audacious adventure.” While they may be first-timers when it comes to hosting a film festival, they’re no strangers to organising events, with experience in race and event directing — and they’ve loved every stage so far, especially selecting the films (no easy task).

Their chosen venue is OMNI Brewing, a local favourite perched on a tree-lined bike path and right next to Carver Regional Park — a 2,200-acre forest playground. Popular with runners and cyclists (and known for excellent pizza), it’s a natural home for an evening of adventure films. Better still, OMNI generously donated the space (you legends!).

The event is being promoted to outdoor and nature lovers of all kinds — runners, swimmers, cyclists, paddlers and photographers — and will feature a very special guest. Devin Brown, who appears in one of our films Mother River, will be attending! A Twin Cities local, Devin is also helping spread the word via a local podcast as she works towards her bold goal of becoming the first Black woman to paddle the entire Mississippi River.

All funds raised will go to Three Rivers Park District, which manages more than 27,000 acres of parks and trails. It’s a place Holly and Garett use year-round — for trail running, biking, kayaking, skiing and swimming — and one they hope more people will discover.

They told us they admire anyone who chooses the outdoors over the mainstream, whether that’s a 75-year-old ultrarunner like Michael Koppy, a family hiking the Appalachian Trail, or someone swapping the supermarket aisles for a couple of hours wandering their local forest.

Quietly radical. Entirely inspiring.

Check out their Event Page.

Outdoor People - helping London families get into camping!

Outdoor People will be hosting their very first London Mountain Film Festival night this year — and CEO Cath Prisk couldn’t be more excited. While Cath has organised everything from large conferences to intimate roundtables, this marks a first for Outdoor People: a film night. And it feels like a perfect fit. “I love documentary as a form of activism,” Cath says, “so this is something really special.”

This will be an Outdoor Women night, open to women, men and anyone who identifies in whatever way feels right for them. The aim is to create space for honest conversations about the extra hurdles women face when getting outdoors — whether that’s on a soggy walk across Hackney Marshes or a full-blown expedition to the Himalayas. Expect chats about kit, periods, pee cloths, kids, cold hips and the eternal quest for a decent night’s sleep outdoors — all over pizza, beer and good company. There’ll even be the chance to try on new kit, with sustainable hand-cleaning products kindly sponsored by local legends Dulcie (formerly Haeckels).

Outdoor People attracts an eclectic crowd, from teenagers and young parents to seasoned mountaineers, with representation from across London’s many language groups, alongside disabled, trans, non-binary and gender-fluid community members. That diversity is shaping an equally varied film programme: short, unusual, conversation-starting films — and even a contribution from a local school, meaning some attendees might spot their own kids on screen.

Funds raised will support Family Wild Walks — short, volunteer-led adventures for children to take their grown-ups on. With £400, Outdoor People can run monthly walks through to autumn, helping families discover wild places on their doorstep — and removing barriers like lack of kit that too often stop people stepping outside.

For outdoor inspiration local adventurer Dwayne Fields from Hackney tops their list - now Chief Scout and the first Black man to reach the North Pole.

Check out their Event Page.

High-flying Svend from Santa Fe, New Mexico

This Community screening is being organised by a first-time event host, stepping into new territory with a mix of excitement and nerves. While it’s Svend's first time putting something like this together, Santa Fe has a strong history of outdoor film festivals — memories that set the bar high and fuel hopes that this event can capture some of that same magic.

The screening will take place at Sky Cinema, a venue chosen not just for its facilities but for its enthusiasm. The team there has been incredibly supportive and genuinely excited to back an event rooted in outdoor culture and community.

The audience is expected to be a broad mix of friends, family, and local clubs. With Santa Fe’s large population of athletes and people passionate about the outdoors, the arts, and the environment, the film selection was shaped to reflect those shared interests and values.

Funds raised from the event will support the Sandia Soaring Association, the local paragliding club. The cause is a personal one — both the organiser and their son are paragliding pilots, and they also have a short documentary screening as part of the festival - check out the fab short, Shared Joy. Supporting the club felt like a natural way to give something back to the community that’s given them so much.

When it comes to inspiration, admiration goes to Jean-Baptiste Chandelier for his creativity as both a paragliding pilot and filmmaker, and Gavin McClurg, whose all-round adventurous spirit continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

Check out their Event Page.

Join Henry's New Zealand Tramping Club!

Henry will be hosting a London Mountain Film Festival Community Event in Blenheim, New Zealand — and for him, this is very much a first. This will be his debut as an organiser, but he’s jumping in with a clear purpose: to bring new people through the door and help build a more diverse, connected outdoor community. The hope is simple — that a shared evening of films might entice people who love the outdoors in different ways to meet, talk and maybe head out on adventures together afterwards.

Rather than opting for a DIY setup, Henry chose a mainstream cinema as the venue. Practicality played a big part in the decision — outsourcing ticketing and finances removes a lot of pressure — but there was also a desire to create something that felt welcoming and professional. It’s maybe a step up from the church hall suggestion (nothing wrong with that!) and helps set the tone for an event that feels open, inclusive and a little special.

The audience Henry hopes to bring together is deliberately broad. Kayakers, walkers and alpinists from across the region are all invited, with the aim of getting them into the same room to meet and make connections. That ambition has shaped the film selection too. While Henry admits he might personally have leaned towards hard rock climbing films, the final reel has been chosen to appeal across disciplines. The process itself has been a highlight — watching the films, debating choices and discovering stories that resonate beyond one niche.

Funds raised from the event will go towards the local helicopter rescue service - Lifeflight Services - you never know when you're gonna need them, and LMFF gets a buzz whenever we hear of a rescue team benefiting from an event like this one.

When it comes to adventure inspiration, Henry has a soft spot for overlooked women pioneers — a subject he could happily give a full illustrated talk on. But if he could share a meal with anyone, it would be the great traveller Ibn Battuta… ideally with a translator on hand.

Check out their Event Page.

Adventure with Beers in Fife!

In Fife, a new Community Film Night is being served up by Howe Beer Project - led by Julia McCarthy - in collaboration with the team behind Dundee Trail Therapy. Neighbours and friends, they saw the event as a chance to celebrate the inspiring work happening right on their doorstep.

While the brewery team are seasoned at creating welcoming gatherings, screening a film is entirely new territory. “We’re total rookies at this,” admits Julia — but they’re also always up for a new adventure, especially when it involves good friends. True to their community ethos, support has flowed in from all sides: students from Fife College’s Sound Production course are helping with A/V, while Letham Community Hall is lending a screen and chairs. It’s been a collective effort from the start.

Howe Beer Project itself is a small independent brewery and taproom that opened in June. Since day one, the aim has been simple: bring people together and support the local community in creative, tangible ways. Hosting a film night — and raising money for a local charity in the process — felt like a natural next step.

They’re expecting a strong turnout from surrounding towns and villages, particularly as the makers of The Oldest Munro Bagger (a key film in our festival this year) are local. Both that film and Dundee Trail Therapy share a powerful message about the value of immersing yourself in nature and taking on new challenges for your mental health — a theme reflected in the wider film selection for the evening.

Funds raised will support Dundee Trail Therapy, a young but fast-growing charity (established in 2024) offering an innovative approach to mental health support through nature-based therapy.

When it comes to adventure heroes, Shackleton is right up there — a leader who faced overwhelming odds with resilience, optimism and an unwavering refusal to give up. Sounds like the right attitude to take into a film night!

Check out their Event Page.

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