There is strong potential for British success at the 40th Annual Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival in November, as six books by British and Irish authors have made the final shortlist.

The titles and their categories are the following: James Rushforth’s Dolomites : Rock Climbs and Via Ferrata, Rock Climbing in Ireland by Dave Flanagan and Lake District Rock from Wired Guides for the Guidebook Award, Statement : The Ben Moon Story by Ed Douglas in Mountain and Wilderness Literature, Steps by Mark Goodwin in Mountain Fiction and Poetry and Alpine Exposures by Jon Griffith in Mountain Image. 

The Banff Mountain Festival is one of the biggest and most important world climbing festivals, similar to the Kendal Mountain Festival in the UK, but having a more established series of Mountain Literature Awards including a dedicated ‘Guidebook’ category.

Over recent years the prestigious Guidebook Award category has been dominated by UK guidebooks with two Rockfax guidebooks (Lofoten and Deep Water), one BMC Guidebook and one Vertebrate guidebook amongst the winners since 2006.

Another European triumph this year looks possible with four of the five finalists coming from Europe, including three from Britain and Ireland. Along with James’ Dolomites book is Dave Flanagan’s excellent Rock Climbing in Ireland guidebook (UKC Review here). The new Lake District Rock from Wired Guides is also in the final five plus a Ski Touring guidebook to Norway and a Backcountry guide to Canada.

The Grand Prize will be revealed at the Book Awards Presentation on Thursday November 5th as part of the 40th Annual Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival.