181 State St
Portland, ME 04101
USA
Adventure is for everyone – you don’t have to be a cyclist to enjoy these journeys featuring people young and old, in the USA and abroad! We’ll be sharing an evening of short films and good company that will delight and inspire any attendee.
6:00 PM Social Hour
7:00 PM films begin
Show information link: https://ciclismoclassico.com/filmfest
Each ticket includes one free entry into our fantastic prize drawing of gift certificates, bike jerseys, and more!
This show is a benefit for One Longfellow Square. A portion of festival proceeds also goes to the nonprofit Adventure Cycling Association.
Additional sponsorship support proudly added by Cyclemania
Our 2023 Featured Films!
- Kanymda Kuniss (Jérémie Reuiller, France, 29 min) They say the biking is just a pretext. An excuse to open doors and open minds. Following Fred Horny through Kyrgyzstan from Bishkek to Lenin Peak, Kanymda Kumiss is more than a mountain bike movie. It’s an adventure. While descending rapid rivers in his pack raft, sharing times with nomads, and observing the 30th anniversary of Kyrgyz independence, Fred does much more than ride.
- The Mountains Do Not Care (Nate Northey, Massachusetts, 4 min) The story of two friends who turned a far-off dream into reality: to cycle the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. They hope this short film inspires you to go on an adventure, no matter how big or small. It’s not about comparing, it’s about experiencing it for yourself.
- The Film You Wanted Me To Make (Anja Masling, The Netherlands, 4 min) A short portrait of Konrad, an elderly man who suffers from Parkinson’s disease. Although the filmmaker wanted to make a film about his condition, he gets carried away by his love for cycling, realizing that this passion matters much more to him than talking about his disease.
- The Heart of Scotland (Rachel Sarah & Stephen Reid, United Kingdom, 24 min) This film gives an insight into Andrew Paddison’s life and his experiences both off and on the bike as we follow Andrew and his team as they tackle 1,000 miles in just 10 days around the Highlands of Scotland. With mechanicals, wrong turns, classic Scottish rain (it’s wetter than normal rain), and 60,000 feet of climbing, this challenge tests Andrew’s determination and his capacity for hard riding day after day.
- Annapurna: Not as Planned (Mick Turnbull, Australia, 13 min) GRAND JURY AWARD WINNER. In October 2022, Mick Turnbull and Danielle O’Hara set off to ride their bikes around the Annapurna Circuit in Central Nepal. But despite all the planning and preparation, things didn’t go according to plan!
- The Delight Alone (Hannah Griggs, Georgia, USA, 3 min) This expressive piece touches on the sense of vulnerability, aloneness, and delight that Hannah experiences while bikepacking in the woods of rural South Carolina with two friends.
- Generational Tales: A Daughter’s Father (Marvin Beranek, Germany, 22 min) Ulirch Wernsing hadn’t slept in a tent since his teenage years but was inspired to give bikepacking a try after hearing the adventures of his daughter Franzi’s extensive bicycle travels throughout the world. Lured by promises of pizza, wine, and ice cream along the way, Ulrich set off from the starting line with Franzi as his coach, full of nervous excitement.
- The Truth and Dignity Project (Will Truettner, California, USA, 7 min) On July 24th, Erick Cedeño, aka Bicycle Nomad, crossed into St. Louis, Missouri, after spending 41 days in the saddle: The 1900-mile journey born of a commitment to bring truth and dignity to an oft-forgotten part of history. Erick’s ride serves as not only an invitation to learn the story but also a means of paying homage to the Buffalo Soldiers’ 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps by reliving their history.
“I look forward to these films almost more than any other event I attend. What people accomplish on their bikes is incredible and inspiring! The first one was literally unbelievable. Beyond breathtaking. Just the kind I’ve come to count on you to show. Will start bringing friends! The father daughter one was so sweet. You made great choices. I’ve been biking every day since. That’s why I come – to get me back out in Spring. Thank you for all the time and effort you put into it!”