Science North's annual IMAX film festival is fast approaching to help quell any winter blues.
Starting Jan. 18 with a "Martinis at the Max" gala event, and running through to Feb. 3, the festival features 12 giant screen adventures, five stories high, with films showing off dazzling coral reefs, remote African wilderness river scenes, dramatic alpine footage and intriguing cave excursions.
Martinis at the Max features specialty martini bars, hors d'oeuvres, and a screening of the IMAX film mysteries of Egypt. Tickets are $40 (plus GST) and can be purchased in person at Science North or by calling 523-IMAX.
Film screenings begin Friday, Jan. 18 at 7 pm. All films are approximately 45 minutes in duration and most days begin at 1 pm.
Space Station, the first film, is the story of 16 nations building a laboratory in space. The lab is the first step towards the international cooperative effort needed to explore the universe.
Coral Reef Adventure at 8 pm, follows the real life expedition of ocean explorers and underwater filmmakers Howard and Michele Hall to the sun-drenched waters of the South Pacific, including Australia's Great Barrier Reef, Fiji and Tahiti to document the health and beauty of coral reefs.
Titanica at 9 pm, takes the audience 12,500 feet beneath the North Atlantic on a voyage of discovery at the most famous shipwreck in the world.
Saturday begins with Galapagos, at 1 pm. The islands, famous for their unique fauna, are investigated from beneath the unknown waters surrounding this volcanic archipelago.
Greatest Places at 2 pm, takes viewers to the most astounding geography on earth, including Tibet, Greenland, Madagascar and the Amazon.
Journey into Amazing Caves at 3 pm, has the audience joining two cave-seekers who share a love for caves and cave exploration in places such as the underwater caves in the jungles of Mexico and the ice caves of Greenland.
Tickets  are $9 for adults or $7 for children or come in packages of five film stubs for $25 plus GST for Science North members and $30 plus GST of the public. A festival package offers a 15 percent discount on food at LakeHouse dining lounge. The full film schedule, including the times for the French versions of the films, is available at http://sciencenorth.ca/imaxfestival . Phone 522-3701 for more information.
