EXTREME TRAVEL-THE THRILLSEEKERS ADVENTURE FILM FESTIVAL

BASE-liners, surfers and extreme explorers take adventure travel to its limits in a series of inspiring – and at times stomach lurching – films being shown at cinemas across the UK at the forthcoming Thrillseekers Adventure Film Festival. Watch our round-up of five films from the festival.

If you've just eaten, you may want to wait a while before you watch I Believe I Can Fly (video). The film shows the stomach-churning adventures of two French friends, Tancrède and Julien, as they combine BASE-jumping (throwing yourself off buildings, bridges and cliffs, using a parachute to break your fall) with slackline and tightrope walking among the skyscrapers of Paris and the natural playgrounds of the Verdon gorge and the fjords of Norway. In fact they push the limits of their sport so far, they are credited with inventing a new one altogether: BASE-lining – even more terrifying than its sister activity.

All of this heart-stopping action – and how the pair feel about it (scared) – is captured on I Believe I Can Fly, one of 15 films being screened during the Thrillseekers Adventure Film Festival, a UK-wide event starting next week.

The films vary widely in subject and style, from the daredevil French friends somersaulting over Norwegian cliff edges to the more cerebral musings of Mickey Smith, a surf photographer who describes his passion for ocean photography over shots of the harsh but spectacular Irish coast.

There are epic journeys, including a gruelling trek across 1,140km of ice to the South Pole, and back, unassisted. The epic Antarctic journey is tackled by Australians James Castrission and Justin Jones who battle frostbite, hypothermia, crevasses and extreme hunger in their quest. And more personal journeys, such as the one seen in Chasing Water by Pete McBride whose experience of growing up on a cattle ranch with the Colorado river running through his 'backyard' inspired him to follow the "American Nile" 1,500 miles from mountains to the sea. The film captures the beauty of the river from above, in aerial shots taken by his pilot father, and from the water level as his filming partner Jon Waterman paddles the entire length of the river. From both views the frightening effects of environmental damage on the river are clear to see.

The Grand Canyon is one of the most iconic natural sights of the world, yet there are parts of it that are barely discovered. In Last of the Great Unknown a group of canyoners set out to explore the steep gorges that lie hidden within its rocky folds.

Clips of these five films can be seen in our video round-up. Whether watching them makes you yearn for an adventure of your own or reach for a stiff drink as these daredevils risk their lives in pursuit of adventure, it's inspiring stuff. Enjoy.

• Tickets are available from £5. Book on the Thrillseekers Adventure Film Festival website http://adventurefest.co.uk