Pedal perspectives: Big Bike Film returns
Celebrate a decade of pedal-powered cinema, showcasing global adventures and cycling heroes
The Big Bike Film Night will be celebrating cycling in all its shapes and forms when it returns to Kā piti for its tenth year.
Beginning in 2015, the Big Bike Film Night is now a muchanticipated film festival that brings a love of cycling to cinemas, presenting an array of international and New Zealand movies specifically selected by Taupō-based curator Brett Cotter.
“Each year, I set out with just one goal - to bring together the best cycling short films from around the world for our audiences, celebrating the fun, the adventure and inspiration that bikes enable.
“Our stellar 2024 collection contains 10 mesmerising films that are as varied and diverse as you could hope for.
“This global programme contains a strong contingent of Kiwi films, including a world premiere, alongside an assortment of international films having their New Zealand premiere here as well.”
Double Everest, which was shot in Queenstown, follows boundary-pushing rider Ben Hildred on his latest quest.
Everesting is a skill few cyclists have in their caps, and its concept is simple - pick any hill, anywhere in the world, and complete repeats of it in a single ride until you climb 8,848m – the equivalent height of Mt Everest.
But Hildred takes it a step further and does it twice.
“For Ben, it’s just another mountain bike ride, but for us mere mortals, it’s utterly bonkers and brilliant. That’s why I love it.”
Another one of the films is a visually commanding picture following one rider’s colourful adventure “scouring the most beautiful spots from Guatemala to Peru via Bolivia, bringing together a masterpiece of breathtaking images and memories”.
Other films include a documentary about a community of cyclists from Alexandra who all share a similar love and passion for their place, people and sport; discovering how a bicycle can be much more than a bicycle, bringing
change to people’s lives; a determined father and his daughter preparing for their greatest adventure together, an ambitious ride that will push them to their physical and emotional limits as they undertake a gruelling trip around Central Otago’s Lake Dunstan Trail; 10 young people learn to ride a long way, embarking on a 900km bikepacking trip from Wellington to Wānaka; a fast-paced, fun and feminist bike race film that finally gives a groundbreaking, nearly forgotten athletic hero her rightful place in history; and a movie set in Scotland, showcasing how the simple joy of riding bikes can make a big impact.
“The power of storytelling is at the forefront of what we offer, and the belief that the humble bicycle can improve our health, inspire and uplift people with where it can take us; connecting communities with stories that captivate us, stories that make us think, and most importantly of all - inspiring us to get out and ride.”