After its sold-out Bay of Plenty debut last year, the New Zealand Mountain Film Festival makes a welcome return to the Tauranga Art Gallery this week.

Co-organised by Shem Banbury and Richard Watson, seven of the best mountain films will be screened at the gallery on Thursday, October 29, and Saturday, October 31.

The 2015 Mountain Film Festival returns to the Tauranga Art Gallery next week on Thursday, October 29, and Saturday, October 31. Photo: Supplied

Richard says based on rave reviews from Tauranga audiences last year, they decided to extend the screening over two nights in 2015.

'We're two local outdoor enthusiasts, the whole ‘weekend warriors' type deal,” says Richard.

'Last year the festival wasn't actually coming to Tauranga, so we contacted the festival's director to ask him why not, his reply was: ‘well, do something about it'. So we have.”

Richard says this year's showcase film is ‘Myanmar: Bridges to Change', which follows seven climbers and their pursuit to be the first to climb Southeast Asia's highest peak – Gamlang Razi – in 2013.

'Other movies include extreme kayaking featuring locally-based paddlers Sam Sutton and Jarod Meehan, plus an inspiring story about a one-legged skier named Vasu Sojitra.

'There's also some extreme skiing, mountain biking and wing suit flying, so this year's event will again look to inspire people's next great adventure.”

The 2015 NZ Mountain Film Festival will screen at the Tauranga Art Gallery on Thursday, October 29, and Saturday, October 31, from 7pm to 9.30pm.

Tickets cost $20 and are available online at: www.mountainfilmfestival-tauranga.nz