Can anyone spare some old fryer grease? Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival (VIMFF) Best of the Fest tour organizers are hoping their host communities will help maintain their momentum. They're asking locals to hand over grease because the vehicle being used to transport the festival's films to more than 50 communities has been converted from requiring diesel to using vegetable oil to fuel its engine. "The idea is to be as environmentally conscious as possible and raise awareness about how we can reduce our impact on the environment," said VIMFF spokesperson and Squamish resident Ivan Hughes. The 1984 Mercedes - nicknamed George Oilwell -came from Dr. Bj枚rn Ratjen of Vancouver Island, who did the conversion himself. The Best of the Fest started March 19 with a trip to Courteney on Vancouver Island, and a stop in at Ratjen's place for a quick check-up before coming to Squamish tomorrow (Saturday, March 22) and Whistler on March 29. It then heads out on the bigger tour with stops all over 小蓝视频 and Alberta. "Lexie Owen is the touring nomad who gets to drive George Oilwell and we are putting the message out to all the locations that George travels to, to have some vegetable oil ready for the next leg of the journey," said Hughes. "We are still hoping that we get enough grease. Rumour has it that Tim Horton's has the best!"The films being screened feature climbing at extreme grades around the world, skiing in far-off lands, mountain biking on the coast, the consequences of hydro power, and more excitement from the world of chills, spills and thrills.The UK film Great White Fright follows the story of climbers Ian Parnell and Chris Cubitt as they tackle a monstrously airy line on the white seacliffs of Dover using ice-climbing tools. 49 Megawatts, by local kayaker Bryan Smith, was awarded the Best Environmental Film prize for taking a close look at the future of British Columbia's rivers after the issuing of private water licenses for power production. Baffin - Children's Island follows six French mountaineers to the Baffin Island for seven weeks spent discovering, big-wall climbing, skiing and base-jumping in these remote corners of the world. The films will be shown at the Eagle Eye Theatre Saturday (March 22), doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Advance tickets are $15 on-line at www.vimff.org or at Valhalla Pure and Climb On. Tickets are $17 at the door.
