Travel enthusiasts everywhere were invited to come out and view the best travel and adventure films in the world today as part of the 8th Annual Travel and Adventure Film Festival (FestiVA), formerly known as the Montreal International Adventure Film Festival, which was held October 21-24, 2009, in Montreal, Canada. The FestiVA held a contest for documentary films from every corner of the globe which featured off-the-beaten-track travel experiences, presented at times as grand adventures and at other times as ultimate sporting pursuits. Most of the films submitted were both world and Canadian premieres. This year, there were 170 entries, 19 of which were chosen for the official selection.
 
2009 Award Winners
ADVENTURA Grand Prize and Audience Award
SOLO by Jennifer Peedom (Australia)
 
ADVENTURA Prize - Mountain Setting | Best production illustrating an activity linked with a mountain setting
THE SHARP END by Peter Mortimer, Sender Films (United States)
 
ADVENTURA Prize - Thalassa | Best production illustrating a water-based activity
THIS IS THE SEA 4 by Justine Curgenven (Great Britain)
 
ADVENTURA Prize - Destination | Best production exploring a little-known culture or location
CARSTENSZ: THE SEVENTH SUMMIT by Pavol Barabas (Slovak Republic)
 
ADVENTURA Prize - Achievement | Best production illustrating a great adventure challenge or an exceptional human achievement
OIL + WATER by Seth Warren (United States)
 
ADVENTURA Prize - Best Short Film
THE LAST FRONTIER: Papua New Guinea by Trip Jennings (United States)
 
ADVENTURA Prize - New Producer | Presented to the director of a first film
LA GRANDE TRAVERSÉE DU LADAKH by Carine Nonnenmacher (France)
 
The 2009 panel of judges is comprised of CLAUDINE DOUVILLE (host, sports enthusiast and writer) acting as president of the event, GIL THÉRIAULT (explorer), DENIS PAQUET (director), MATHIEU LAMARRE (news photographer and assistant senior editor of the Espaces, Adventura and Parabolik magazines), and SYLVIE FRÉCHETTE (mountaineer and author).