An international filmmaker, a world-record-breaking adventurer and a leading New Zealand mountain guide are set to share their stories at the festival this June.
Headlining the line-up is award-winning French adventure filmmaker and alpinist Sébastien Montaz-Rosset.
Best known for his groundbreaking work in extreme mountain filmmaking, Sébastien is also a highly accomplished athlete and adventurer in his own right. A qualified mountain guide, he has undertaken demanding alpine ascents and ski descents across the Mont Blanc massif, often alongside top alpinists, including descents on peaks such as Mont Maudit and the Aiguille Verte.
This dual identity – filmmaker and adventurer – reached a broader stage through his collaborations with elite mountain athletes such as Kilian Jornet, where Sébastien accompanied and documented speed ascents of iconic peaks including Mont Blanc and Everest. His involvement in projects like Summits of My Life placed him in expedition conditions at altitude, reinforcing his role as an active participant in high-level mountaineering endeavours.
A pioneer of immersive mountain cinematography, Sébastien has directed and produced more than twenty films through Montaz-Rosset Studio, helping to shape the modern language of mountain storytelling.
Joining him at the 2026 festival is Petrouchka Steiner-Grierson, an IFMGA mountain guide based in Lake Hāwea whose climbing and ski mountaineering resume spans Patagonia, Arctic Norway, Yosemite and Aotearoa’s Southern Alps. In recent years, Petrouchka has been at the forefront of exploratory ski mountaineering in the Southern Alps, completing demanding descents on peaks including Aoraki/Mt Cook, Mt Dixon, Mt Haast High Peak and Mt Silberhorn.
Also speaking is Kiwi adventurer Matheson Brown, who in 2024 set a new world record for climbing the highest peak in every US state. Frustrated that the previous record had become a “pay-to-win” challenge literally fuelled by a private jet, Matheson set out to prove that a regular person with determination, creativity and hard work could still achieve something extraordinary. Starting on Denali in Alaska and finishing on Mount Rainier in Washington, Brown completed the challenge without sponsors or luxury transport in just 20 days, 14 hours and four minutes.
Festival Director Whitney Oliver is thrilled to share this year’s speaker lineup.
“It’s a real coup to have Sebastien joining us all the way from Europe,” says Whitney. “He brings the unique perspective of a mountaineer who thinks like an artist, keeping pace with elite athletes through gruelling terrain, all while carrying a full kit of camera gear to craft stunning stories.” She continues:
“Equally exciting is the chance to showcase world-class talent from our own backyard. Petrouchka and Matheson possess an understated style that belies their incredible achievements; they are the personification of what’s possible with grit, determination, and curiosity. We can’t wait to hear their stories.”
The NZ Mountain Film & Book Festival has been a highlight of the community calendar for 24 years, drawing Queenstown Lakes District locals and visitors from across New Zealand. It is a celebration of world-class films, fascinating talks and hands-on learning at the renowned Adventure Film School.
As a proud member of the International Alliance for Mountain Film, the festival showcases incredible work from international and Kiwi filmmakers, with finalists and winners creating an unforgettable programme. The mountain book competition adds a literary dimension, attracting talented writers with its generous prize pool. Many finalists also share their stories and readings at the festival.
Since 2012, the festival has operated as a charitable trust, raising funds for causes like youth adventure training, assisting people with disabilities to enjoy the outdoors, and supportingenvironmental projects. Funds are raised through auctions and a national tour, with grant applications opening on July 1.
Entries for the NZ Mountain Book competition closed on 15 March, and winners will be announced in May. Meanwhile, the deadline for entering films in the internationally renowned filmcompetition is fast approaching on April 15, with many New Zealand filmmakers putting the finishing touches on their world premieres.
The NZ Mountain Film & Book Festival will run in Wānaka from 19–23 June, in Queenstown from 25–26 June, and films will be screened online in New Zealand and Australia from 24 June until 31 July. The full programme will be announced, and tickets will go on sale on 19 May.
Find out more about the keynote speakers here