Kendal Mountain Tour returning to region

The Kendal Mountain Tour is headed back to Sandpoint later this month for its third visit.

The tour's films will be shown at Sandpoint’s Panida Theater Saturday night, Nov. 22. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with films starting at 7 p.m.  Tickets are $18 in advance and $20 at the door.  All tickets for the Kendal Mountain Tour will be sold through the Panida Theater website at panida.org/event/kendal-mountain-film-fest.

The Kendal Mountain Tour made its first visit to Sandpoint in 2022. The tour has a large presence in the UK, celebrating adventure and the great outdoors in Kendal, England, on the edge of the English Lake District. 

Held annually since 1980, when it was then known as the Kendal Mountaineers Film Festival, is has grown to the UK’s biggest adventure film festival. It currently tours in the UK and is venturing across the pond to only nine U.S. cities. 

This year, audiences will be presented with seven films showcasing heart-stopping adventure, human resilience, and daring feats of courage.  Whether you are an armchair adventurer or one who appreciates taking on the challenges the North Idaho outdoors presents, this year’s tour offers a wide array of outdoor activities. 

This year’s films include “Mr. Cato”, who by day is an elementary school teacher vying for the Olympics in BMX.  His passion is inspiring his students through the sport he loves. Another selection is “DarkHorse,” the story of 44-year-old Joe Lax, who, instead of seeking the accolades of the crowd, seeks praise in the mountains with his accomplished snowboarding skills.  Joe’s question remains unanswered: If a snowboarder rides a steep, exposed line in the Whistler backcountry and no one sees or hears it, did it really happen? Kayaking in Slovenia’s Soca River, creating art on mountaineering routes, or catching up with the “Granny Grommets” who catch waves every Friday morning, this year's Kendal Mountain Film Festival will reinforce your love of the outdoors and why we seek it, said Michael Boge of Mountain Fever Productions, which is hosting the film tour.

This year’s series is part of the fall announcement that the Sandpoint Idaho Film Fest will be on the calendar for the first time next year, in October 2026.  Created by Nick Hyphen, Katie Winkler, and Chris Renfer, their passion for film runs high. They believe that Sandpoint should have a vibrant annual film festival that showcases cinema, community, and connection.  Creating a film festival is not easy; it takes a full year to plan, set up, judge entries, and prepare for a quality show.  Kendal Mountain Tour this year will help fund that journey and provide a space to educate showgoers about the upcoming 2026 local film festival. 

Information: panida.org