POSTED: Friday October 1st 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Annecy hosts the International Freeski Film Festival

The international event promotes freeskiing and sports cinema

After three years in Montreal city, the renowned film festival is coming to Europe for the first time. The international event promotes freeskiing by creating a gathering place for manufacturers, professional skiers, film producers, photographers and specialised media players. Held for the first time in Europe from 30th Sep - 2nd Oct, the organisers chose the city of Annecy to host the event, adding a further international festival to the city's calendar of events.

"I would say that Annecy is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, perhaps the most beautiful! Annecy is also a freeski capital because it is close to a number of resorts where several well-known riders come from, like Candide Thovex and Laurent Favre," explains Xavier Bertoni, winner of the X-Games in 2009 and several other skiing events. In the same vein as the Cannes Film Festival, the Freeski Film Festival draws in international and European production companies, as well as pro-riders and free skiers amateur, to unveil the freeski films of 2010-2011. Also on the agenda: an exhibition of ski manufacturers and other industry players, as well as meetings, autograph signings with international skiers, and a host of other events. For this first ever European edition, in Annecy, numerous freeski champions will make the trip, including Frenchman Kevin Rolland - world half-pipe champion and winner of the US and European X-Games 2010, Canadian J.P. Auclair - freeski pioneer, American Tanner Hall - a living legend of freestyle skiing, and Henrik Windstedt from Sweden, 3rd place in the Freeride World Tour 2010.

"France has always been at the forefront of freeski - a sport characterised by freedom, creativity and modernity. As an Olympic Champion of mogul skiing, I'm delighted to see this freeski festival come to Annecy," says Edgar Grospiron, who is also the CEO of the Annecy 2018 Olympic bid - a partner of the event. "The festival promotes both the sport itself and the best skiers around the world. It also puts the spotlight on the men and women who usually remain off-camera: the producers, directors, technicians - all those who help make these films and magazines possible." 

Freeskiing is a growing market, which was further proven when the major freeski event, the X-Games, came to Europe. The film festival also contributes to the local economic fabric, with numerous manufacturers of the skiing industry located in the area surrounding Annecy. Free outdoor viewings are planned for the thousands of viewers expected at the Festival's opening ceremony held at the Pâquier - the proposed venue of the opening and closing ceremonies in the Annecy 2018 Olympic bid. Stalls held by the industry's brand-names, a cultural area and photo exhibition, evening events and ceremonies are just some of the live sites planned over the weekend in the centre of Annecy to bring the "Venice of the Alps" to life with skiing and winter sports. 

Festival key figures:
> More than 20 film viewings
> 3 evening concerts
> An outdoor exhibition of industry brand names
> Autograph signings with more than 15 pro-riders
> More than 20 brand names present

More information at http://www.if3.ca

Annecy is a candidate to host the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2018. The International Olympic Committee will announce its decision on 6 July 2011 during the 123rd Session of the IOC in Durban, South Africa.

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Keywords · Annecy 2018 · Olympic Bidding · Edgar Grospiron · International Freeski Film Festival · Freeskiing · sports cinema

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Name: Alexandra Carraz
Organization: Annecy 2018
Email:
Phone: + 33 (0)6 22 86 73 12
URL: http://www.annecy2018.com/fr/

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