Words :: Kaylan Worsnop // Photos :: Jimmy Martinello
In its 28th year, the VIMFF has a long-held mission to rouse a community to action through the power of connection and inspiration. Their 2025 Festival makes no exception, kicking off this year’s event with an evening that explores identity, wild places, and the pursuit of dreams. The stunning imagery and captivating stories we’ve come to expect from the VIMFF will be heightened by headlining speakers Jimmy Martinello and Alenka Mali, offering both inspiration and motivation through their talk The Spirit of Adventure.
Featured in publications like National Geographic and Outside Magazine, not to mention multiple appearances in Mountain Life, Jimmy Martinello is a world-class adventurer and photographer based in the Sea to Sky. His images have graced many covers of ML magazine, inspiring adventurous spirits through his visual storytelling and his access to spectacular places. He’ll be joined by Alenka Mali, who last year, at just 24, became the first woman to complete a successful freeride snowboard BASE jump off Goat Mountain. She’s travelled the world pursuing mountain adventures and is living proof that with persistence and determination, anything is possible.
In their talk, Jimmy and Alenka will share some of their best stories from years of global adventures. With stunning images and honest reflection, the pair will examine the challenges and obstacles faced when pursuing one’s passions. They’ll highlight the importance of seizing opportunities and discuss what it takes to make dreams a reality. Seeking to not just inspire, but inform, this talk is for everyone who feels called to a personal adventure and is seeking the balance and persistence to work toward that dream.
In addition to this presentation, three international adventure films will be screened, exploring identity on skis, following Alenka’s historic BASE jump, and transiting the Northwest Passage in Renan Ozturk’s latest work.
35 mins | Austria | 2023
DIRECTORS: Michael Haunschmidt, Mathias Kögel
DESCENDANCE is Dennis’ story—the story of a kid who, in the town where he was born and raised, had to answer the question, “Where are you really from?” It’s a story of identity, everyday racism and self-discovery, as Dennis seeks to define himself not only as a skier, but as a Black man who’s spent his life in predominantly white spaces.
18 mins | Canada | 2024
DIRECTOR: Cristobal Ruiz
Alenka Mali, a 24-year-old raised in Slovenia and born in Argentina, grew up immersed in the outdoors, guided by her parents, both acclaimed climbers. In the winter of 2024, she completed a snowboard BASE jump off Goat Mountain in Squamish, BC, becoming first woman to achieve this feat.
This moment marked not only the realisation of her wildest dream but also a powerful reflection on her journey and the role her mother played in shaping her path. Alenka’s story is a testament to the courage to pursue the impossible and the enduring influence of motherhood in shaping our lives.
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
25 mins | US | 2023
DIRECTORS: Renan Ozturk, Andrew Harrison Brown
An expedition to the Northwest Passage provides a glimpse into the age of exploration, and for Mark Synnott, a chance to celebrate the uniquely human spirit of adventure. But understanding the ice takes the kind of knowledge gained by the Inuit community of Giog Haven over thousands of years of nomadic movement. With the help of Inuit guide, Jacob Keanik, the crew sets sail, navigating around ice and storms, through some of the harshest landscapes on Earth.
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