Skopje, 20 October 2025 (MIA) — The 16th ECHO Mountain Film Festival will open Tuesday evening with a screening of Polish filmmaker Eliza Kubarska's "The Last Expedition" (2024), an inspiring true story of mountaineering icon Wanda Rutkiewicz, the first woman to scale the world's highest mountains.

The festival will also host a book launch for the Macedonian translation of "Wanda. A story about the power of life and death. The story of Wanda Rutkiewicz," a biography of the Polish Himalayan climber written by Anna Kamińska. Kamińska will address attendees.

Screenings of the documentaries "The Girl Climber" (2025) directed by Jon Glassberg and "After Antarctica" (2021) by Tasha Van Zandt will follow.

The Echo Mountain Film Festival screenings will continue at the Cinematheque through Friday. "This year, the festival focuses on the connection between man and nature through a meticulously chosen program of documentary and art films from around the world," organizers said.

The festival's programming includes several environmental films, selected together with the Macedonian Ecological Society, which explore the consequences of climate change and human impact on nature. 

The festival will also offer lectures and presentations by top regional mountaineers, directors and artists. "Of particular interest is the guest appearance of Slovenian female alpinists and documentary filmmakers, who will present their vision of the female perspective in alpine climbing and contemporary research," organizers said. 

Anja Petek, Patricija Verdev and Urša Kešar are Slovenian mountaineers known for their participation in the Lalung Women's Expedition in India, during which they climbed four new routes, including a first ascent of Lalung I. The achievement earned them a Piolet d'Or (Golden Ice Axe) Special Mention for Female Mountaineering. 

The Piolet d'Or, awarded by the Groupe de Haute Montagne, is the highest global recognition in alpine climbing. Often called the "Oscars of mountaineering," it is given to alpine teams for their achievements, style, creativity, spirit, self-sufficiency and surmounting technical difficulties.

The ECHO Mountain Film Festival, which is a member of the International Alliance for Mountain Film, will also hold panel discussions on environmental initiatives and developing the country's outdoor culture. Macedonian mountaineers and documentary filmmakers will speak about their experiences, as well.

In addition, there will be children's workshops on environmental protection, creativity and nature. They will be held at Skopje's Europe House. Admission to all festival events is free. mr/