Bernadette McDonald wins 2026 Ulsan Ulju Mountain Culture Award

For over 40 years, Bernadette McDonald has been a dedicated chronicler of the lives and narratives of the climbing community. Known for her meticulous research and interviews, she has documented the lives of mountaineers and the significance of climbing. Her work is particularly celebrated for bringing long-overlooked voices to the forefront; it is shining a spotlight on female mountaineers and local climbers from regions such as Nepal and Pakistan, thereby enriching the historical record of international alpinism.

She has established herself as a bestselling author whose numerous works have made a significant impact on the field of mountain literature. Her landmark book, Freedom Climbers, achieved an extraordinary feat in 2011 by winning the three most prestigious awards in mountain literature: the Grand Prize at the Banff Mountain Book Festival, the Boardman Tasker Award, and the American Alpine Club (AAC) Literary Award. The book has been translated into nine languages and published in 18 countries. Her latest title, Alpine Rising, sheds new light on the untold stories of local mountaineers from Nepal and Pakistan, challenging and expanding the traditional narrative of climbing history.

Her contributions extend beyond the written word into the realm of mountaineering film, where she played a pivotal role in transforming the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival into a world-class event. As a founding member of both the Banff Mountain Book Festival and the International Alliance for Mountain Film (IAMF), she contributed to the growth of international mountain culture. In recognition of her lifelong dedication to advancing international mountain culture, she was awarded the Alberta Order of Excellence, the highest honor bestowed by the Province of Alberta, Canada.

The Ulsan Ulju Mountain Culture Award Selection Committee stated, "We have selected Bernadette McDonald in recognition of her exceptional contributions to the documentation and dissemination of mountain culture through her tireless efforts in mountain literature, mountain film, and academic research."

The award ceremony will take place on September 18, 2026, during the opening ceremony of the 11th Ulsan Ulju Mountain Film Festival. Throughout the festival, McDonald will engage with the public through a variety of programs, including film screenings, exhibitions, and special talk sessions, sharing her lifelong journey and insights into mountain culture.

The 11th Ulsan Ulju Mountain Film Festival will be held from Friday, September 18, to Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at the Yeongnam Alps Complex Welcome Center and its surrounding areas.

UMCA Citation
Bernadette McDonald, recognized as a visionary leader of 21st-century global mountain culture, has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Ulsan Ulju Mountain Culture Award. For over four decades, McDonald has made profound contributions to the advancement of mountain literature and film worldwide. She played a pivotal role in developing the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival(hereinafter “BANFF”) into a globally renowned event and participated in the founding of both the BANFF and the International Alliance for Mountain Film (IAMF).

As an author, McDonald’s body of work — nine authored books and four edited volumes—has achieved significant international acclaim. Through meticulous research and an impartial perspective, she has chronicled the memories of mountaineers from diverse nations, elevating them into the realms of history and literature. She has given voice to those long overlooked — women, and mountaineers from Nepal and Pakistan—restoring their experiences to the record from their own perspective. She has invited reflection on the essence of climbing itself, probing the nature of risk, passion, and mortality. McDonald’s writings have significantly reshaped how experts and general readers alike perceive mountains and mountaineering.

Her efforts to share the experiences, passion, and inspiration born on high peaks — transforming them from the domain of a few into a shared legacy for all — carry profound significance for the world we inhabit today. McDonald's work has earned some of the most prestigious honors in mountain literature and culture, including two Boardman Tasker Prizes, the Banff Mountain Book Festival Grand Prize, King Albert Award (for international leadership in the field of mountain culture and environment), and the Alberta Order of Excellence.

Mountain literature and film represent one of humanity's most vital and imaginative traditions — a treasured heritage born of the human encounter with the peaks. By bestowing the 11th Ulsan Ulju Mountain Culture Award upon Bernadette McDonald, the Ulsan Ulju Mountain Film Festival celebrates her outstanding contributions to broadening the horizons of mountain culture, enriching the lives and journeys of humanity in the 21st century.

UMCA Committee
Christine Kyung-mi Pae, (Chairman of UMCA Committee) Vice President of Korea Alpine FederationJae-shik Sohn, Honorary Chairman of Korean Alpen Book ClubYoung-hoon Oh, Contract Professor, Kyungpook National UniversityAlbert Lee, Chief of CAC Mountain ArchivesIl-keun Chung, Chair Professor, Kyungnam UniversityBilly Choi, Member of the selection and programming Committee of BBK Mendi Film Festival