And this year the popular event has been expanded to two evenings

The Sudbury stop on the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour celebrates its 20th year this month.

With the landmark anniversary comes a few changes to the event, which features some of the most popular adventure documentaries shown at the Banff Mountain Film Festival in Banff, Alta. last fall.

The Sudbury event has only increased in popularity over the past two decades, so it's taking place over two evenings this year instead of just one.

It starts at 7 p.m. both Jan. 26 and 27 at All Nations Church — note the change from the festival's usual venue at Laurentian University's Fraser Auditorium.

Organizer Jim Little said the film festival has sold out for the last few years, so he booked two days this time so more people can attend.

Different films will be played each evening. Little said some people have actually purchased tickets for both evenings. Fraser Auditorium wasn't available two days in a row, so Little found a new venue.

The festival is always held in late January, during the cold, dark and somewhat dreary days of midwinter. The adventure films give people a “slight pick-me-up,” Little said.

“There's that sort of appeal to a group of community-minded audience members that just need that drive to get outside more or spark up an interest in something,” he said.

“The theme is predominantly outdoors activities, and I would say more oxygen or people-powered adventures. That sounds a little bit like Sudbury. Sudburians tend to want to keep going outside.”

Little said this year's lineup hasn't yet been finalized — festival staff are waiting to see what films are most popular with other Ontario audiences — but there's some great choices.

“I know that there's 37 movies on tour,” he said. “There's a good variety of them these days. I think that's based on the many years that Banff has been running.

“They have lots of categories from action and adventure to environmental films. They've actually incorporated more female content in many of these shows as well. That's really great to see.”

As usual, the event is a fundraiser for the Laurentian University Outdoor Adventure Leadership third-year trip.

Little, the program's co-ordinator, said the students will hike for two weeks in Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland this year. “I don't know if my knees will stand it,” he jokes.

Tickets to the event cost $20 each per evening. You can purchase tickets online here.