Silvo Karo's Autobiography as Introduction to the 12th Mountain Film Festival

Silvo Karo's Autobiography as Introduction to the 12th Mountain Film Festival.

The long-awaited autobiography of the protagonist of the golden age of Slovenian alpinism Silvo Karo, one of the most successful and boldest conquerors of Patagonian mountains in their entire history, has been published. Karo will present his 40-year rich alpinistic path at the 12th Mountain Film Festival, where Nives Meroi, Roman Benet and Ines Papert will also give lectures, and likewise between February 26 and March 4 in Ljubljana, Domžale, Celje and Mojstrana, 35 films about alpinism, climbing, adventure, mountain nature and culture will be on display.



Alpinist is the long-awaited autobiography of a hero of modern alpinism, which presents juicy and vivid stories from perhaps the most fruitful period of Slovenian alpinism in climbing to readers on the 40th anniversary of engaging in alpinism. “My alpinistic path led me from the romantic analog seventies to the fast digital years of the new millennium, from rural countryside to brutal Patagonian storms, vast heights of the Himalaya, glowing chimneys of Karakoram granite, Greenland horizon, Indian monsoon, Yosemite vertical walls and beautiful Julian Alps,” emphasizes Silvo Karo, representative of the rock'n'roll generation that transferred energy and rhythm into the walls. “Dedication, boldness, passion and sincere friendship together with Franček Knez and Janez Jeglič - Johan gave birth to the trio of the three musketeers. My alpinistic career, which ranged from Himalayan 8000 meters to 8a in sport climbing, was most marked by the big walls of Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre, Torre Egger and Bhagirathi,” adds the alpinist who faithfully followed modern trends of top alpinism and brought it to light and fast.



The essay signed by Karo Patagonia: Terra Mystica was published in the book Voices from the Summit (2000). The film Cerro Torre South Face received the silver gentian for the best alpinistic film at the festival in Trento in 1989. His love for film was upgraded in 2007 with the founding of the Mountain Film Festival. In 2010 he became an honorary member of the English Alpine Club, and at home he received the decoration of the Order for Merits of the Republic of Slovenia.



The name Silvo Karo evokes silent awe in most climbers around the world. How can an ordinary person climb such things? His most dangerous and most demanding routes are still unrepeated after more than three decades. This is not an ordinary autobiography: this is the story of a fighter who brought something precious from the other side.

- Paul Pritchard, alpinist and writer



The protagonists of the golden age of Slovenian alpinism tackled ascents with such passion that the survivors seem endowed with almost superhuman abilities. People, laughter, witty details and the intensity of the fruitful period we get to know in the book through the life story of one of the best in history.

- Kelly Cordes, writer and alpinist



The long-awaited autobiography of Silvo Karo is a welcome addition to the rich tradition of Slovenian alpinistic literature. The thrilling uncompromisingness in the vertical world is wonderfully balanced by his refreshingly modest personality and light style.

- Bernadette McDonald, writer



Silvo always kept pace with trends, while friendly sharing his inspiration and experiences with enthusiastic youngsters. With his book, even a wider circle of aspiring alpinists will absorb a piece of old alpinistic wisdom (or madness?) and incorporate it into new ascents.

- Andrej Grmovšek, alpinist



Silvo Karo is far from average guys who describe hikes to Everest. He is one of the true heroes of modern alpinism, and these are stories about walls that rank among the hardest in the world.

- Colin Haley, alpinist



The book that collects the most legendary stories from probably the most fruitful period of Slovenian alpinism in climbing. Both are still a great source of inspiration for me.

- Luka Lindič, alpinist



Through the images of walls you gaze into nine lives.

- Franček Knez, alpinistic legend



The protagonist of the golden age of Slovenian alpinism will present the book publicly for the first time today, January 25, in the evening at the Montura store Alpstation in Trieste. Next Thursday, February 1, he will present his autobiography to the mayor of the Municipality of Domžale Toni Dragarj, a loyal supporter of the Mountain Film Festival.



On the 40th anniversary of engaging in alpinism, Silvo Karo will speak about his fruitful alpinistic path and the book Alpinist on March 2 in Cankarjev dom in Ljubljana, at the 12th Mountain Film Festival you will also hear two exceptional stories from the vertical world, namely the inspiring narrative of the Italian-Slovenian duo Nives Meroi and Roman Benet, who together climbed all fourteen eight-thousanders, and the lecture by the German top alpinist and ice climber Ines Papert.



The Slovenian mountain festival established at home and in the world has been proudly bringing mountains to the valley on the big screen for the twelfth year. This year it will offer viewers 35 films from 19 countries in four categories: alpinism, climbing, mountain nature and culture, and mountains, sports and adventure. In Cankarjev dom in Ljubljana, Mestni kino Domžale, Mestni kino Metropol in Celje and the Slovenian Mountaineering Museum in Mojstrana, from February 26 to March 4, a whole week of inspiring stories of individuals who push boundaries in climbing and alpinism, mysterious mountain cultures and endangered animal species, majestic images of mountains, breathtaking adventures and strong nature conservation messages from the treasure trove of the mountain world awaits.