Why Women In Adventure at ShAFF?
19th Mar 2015
Hayley Lever, Co-Director of Derbyshire Sport is one of our new judges this year with a special remit for Women In Adventure films. Hayley reflects on the impact watching the films had on her.
Responding to feedback from visitors in previous years, ShAFF actively sought to redress the balance this year. To seek out more films about women and made by women. It certainly achieved its aim, with double the number of women either behind the lens and/or in front of the camera.
The focus on women in adventure coincided with the launch of Sport England’s #ThisGirlCan campaign. It seeks to address the barriers that women perceive to their participation in sport - many of which boil down to the fear of judgement. Am I good enough? What do I look like? Will people think I’m selfish if I take time out for me? What if I fail?
It struck me that if women and girls are scared to get active and take up sport, then adventure sport has an even bigger challenge ahead to engage women.
A challenge that ShAFF 2015 is going to help to achieve.
Why me?
Who am I?... A mediocre runner, cyclist, adventurer, coach, mum of three girls, and advocate of women and girls in sport. In my job at Derbyshire Sport, I work to get people active and to be the best that they can be in sport, women and girls are under-represented and ‘under celebrated’ in sport. We have to close that gap.
Fear of judgement
I too, was scared. My fears? Will I be good enough? Am I worthy of being a ‘judge’? What will people think? Why me? I’m no expert. ‘This Girl Can’! I told myself, and dived in. My first time as a ShAFF judge has been exciting. It has filled my winter with laughter, tears, inspiration and awe.
My criteria
What was I looking for in films featuring women in adventure, or made by women?
- Passion
- Determination
- Authenticity
- Connection
- Meaning
- Inspiration to Action
- Memorable
I wondered at times, if this didn’t make me a ‘real’ judge.
I mean, what about superb filmmaking? Technical expertise? Great soundtracks? Amazing cinematography? Yes - these things are all important too, but I’ve waited for 10 years for women in adventure to feature strongly at ShAFF- so for me – the films had to speak to me, as a woman, a mum, an advocate for women and girls in sport. They had to leave me wanting to get out there and have adventures, big and small, and to change the world of sport for my daughters and their daughters.
My favourites
- The stand out film for me, winning the both the Best Women in Adventure Film (Gold) and Best Running Film (Silver) prizes, is Finding Traction - Nikki Kimball's quest to become the fastest person in history to run America's oldest hiking trail, the 273-mile Long Trail. That’s 10 marathons back to back plus twice the height gain of Mount Everest in under 5 days. The highs and lows of this film, the ambition, raw emotion and sheer determination are astounding. I have finally entered a measly 56 mile ultra as a direct result of this film. How hard can it possibly be?!
- Winning Silver, is Come On, Eileen which also won the Rapha Best Road Cycling Film (Gold) prize. This film shows that despite what we may think, women have been awesome for generations! It’s easy to believe that it’s only in recent years that women have been achieving great things on the sporting scene, but Eileen Sheridan, from Coventry was breaking records in great style, with 5 gears, no gloves or padded shorts, and a razor sharp saddle- between doing the housework, back in the late 1940s, when there were no female cycling events in the Olympic Games. Her achievements in road cycling were out of this world. I grew up in Coventry (albeit in a non-cycling family), and had never heard of her until last year. It just goes to show that the issues about women’s sport in the mainstream press were just the same back then.
- Taking Bronze, Derby Crazy Love is a fascinating insight into the counter culture that exists around the fast and furious, aggressive team sport of Roller Derby. The film also received the Best Soundtrack (Gold) prize and a Judges’ Special Mention in the Grand Prize category. Roller Derby may not be my thing and it didn’t leave me wanting to lace up my boots, but it did provoke some interesting conversations with my 10 year old, and it’s definitely a film I won’t forget. The music and energy of this film are fantastic. The fact that this is a women’s sport, that men are now starting to take up, was particularly refreshing. There are not many of them around.
My journey through ShAFF Women in Adventure judging would not be complete without a mention of some of the other superb films that made this job so difficult.
- Project Mina challenges many stereotypes in rock climbing, in a film of perseverance, strength, focus and determination. Jen Randall, is an amazing film maker. It was only after I scored all the films, that I realised just how many of Jen’s films were in my top 20.
- Her own story Where Walking Took Me was a poignant, gentle tale, of how nurturing our children in the outdoors, can not only a foster a love of nature, the outdoors, and being active, but also great careers and lives.
- Just Keep Running features Ruby Muir, a New Zealand runner with a story to tell, that many women could relate to. The question of ‘why we run’ features strongly here, and Ruby doesn’t shy away from the dangers of obsession and control, which many athletes cross the line into. The landscape of New Zealand never disappoints.
- At the start of Megamoon, I thought ‘this is a bit weak’- a story of a woman in love, cycling through America on her honeymoon. It’s just a holiday video! By the end, I wanted to get my husband and my bike, ship the kids off to grandparents for a couple of weeks and go on an adventure! It made me want to rediscover the laughter and adventure of our own cycle tours and travels, before our three wonderful, but somewhat all-consuming daughters arrived. So if a successful Women In Adventure film has to move me to action - this one did it too.
Over the months, I showed many of the films to one or other of my daughters, who are 7, 10 and 11. The shorter films obviously held their attention most, and the ones featuring girls closer to their age.
- Movement of Three was a firm favourite with all of us. A parkour film showcasing the skills of three agile, strong and daring young women. My youngest daughter said “I would like to be one of those girls when I’m older.’ That’s the inspiration I’m always looking for.
- All of the BMC Women in Mountain Adventure competition film entries were a hit with the kids, as well as the Wild Women series. Fran earned immediate respect from Freya, who is a big supporter of para-sport.
- Finally, Walking on Sunshine and Wild Women - Ellen Brennan deserve a mention, for showcasing the women in high adrenaline sports of high lining and wingsuit flying.
My future
As my first year of ShAFF judging comes to an end. I’m going to stop wondering if I’m ‘worthy’ of being a judge. Stop questioning whether my own adventures are significant enough to give me an opinion.
I have loved every minute of judging. ShAFF will, more than ever before, inspire me as a mediocre runner woman, a mum, a wife and a developer of sport. I hope watching the films does the same for you.
Thank you, Heason Events. I’m available in 2016!
