Congratulations to the winners of the 9th Sheffield Adventure Film Festival, 4-6 April 2014

Best Film: Grand Prize: Road From Karakol

Silver: Valhalla
Bronze: Heaven’s Gate

read full list of winning films
 

Isobel Bowler, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Leisure at Sheffield City Council, said: “Congratulations to all this year's winning films.  Sheffield is home to many adventurous sports enthusiasts and offers unrivalled access to climbing, biking and walking not least because of our proximity to the Peak District National Park. We are delighted the festival is taking place in Sheffield again this year and it is entirely in tune with our identity as a city of sport and of the outdoors.”

JUDGING PANEL COMMENTS:

Sheffield Adventure Film Festival Director Matt Heason said:  "This year's judging was the hardest yet with more than 100 films and standards higher than ever.  The Road From Karakol stood out as a film that epitomises all aspects of what we're looking for in a Grand Prize winning film - an inspiring adventure, brilliant story-telling and strong production values.  As Fitz Cahill from Duct Tape Then Beer explains, this was never supposed to be a 25 minute film about a 6 week trip.  Shot almost entirely on a GoPro and a point-and-shoot camera with video capabilities, Fitz saw Kyle give a presentation about his trip and realising he had an incredible story, knew the challenge would be to piece together the 25 hours of rough footage into a coherent film which took a year of on and off work.  The film has been a massive hit on Vimeo and underlines our strong belief that independent cinema can flourish in an internet age.  There'll always be that undefinable magic in bringing people together to enjoy inspirational films on the big screen."
 
"It was a close run with Sweetgrass Productions' Valhalla and Heaven's Gate - two very contrasting films.  Sweetgrass are one of the most original and innovative independent filmmakers in the business.  Words can't do this fictional ski epic justice.  And this year we felt Red Bull have cracked the holy grail of truly jaw-dropping action combined with Jeb Corliss' gripping story in the big budget, edge of your seat epic that is Heaven's Gate."  

"It's a privilege to be premiering Wide Boyz II and we're delighted the sequel, like the original, has won our Best Climbing Film Award, just pipping 75 Byth Rhy Hen (75 Never to Old) and Reel Rock's Spice Girl to the post.  As a Welsh speaker I'm personally very pleased to see a Welsh language film take one of our top spots, especially as both the stars of the film are in their 70s."

ShAFF Judge, Trail Running Magazine Editor Claire Maxted, sponsor of our Best Running Film Award said:  "I really enjoyed watching all this year's running films, they were fun, inspiring and excellently filmed. The winning film The Runners stood out because of its fresh, cheeky yet ultimately very simple approach, you'll definitely laugh, you might also shed a tear, but you'll come away thinking 'how on earth did they get that footage?!'. The other two winners are more classically inspiring tales of that unquenchable human urge to run through jaw-dropping backdrops. They will make you want to lace up your shoes straight away and hit the trails."

Writer, climber & runner and ShAFF Judge, Claire Carter, said, 'The winners of this year’s short and artistic awards show sharp, innovative ability, demonstrating the real potential of film to interpret adventure. These films absorb you. The humid torrents of Cascada are paced with tangible momentum. Nick Brown’s unobtrusive style allows us a sincere insight into a groundbreaking ascent of Careless Torque. The Burn and Trip Colour create a surreal and dark ski experience, echoed in episodes of Valhalla. These films visualise the place adventure takes us to inside our heads. Snow is not simply white anymore! This year’s ShAFF showcases inspiring developments in adventure film, how did they do it … find the filmmakers in the bar and ask!’

Adventure sports writer, endurance athlete & ShAFF Judge, Nik Cook, said:  "This year’s bike films are the strongest and most diverse in the three years I’ve been judging at ShAFF. The fact that much heralded and acclaimed mountain biking epics such as Arrival and Not Bad haven’t made the top three is testament to that. Picking up Bronnze, is local film North. In the four chapters on show the riding is fantastic, the camera work beautiful and, as a Peak District cyclist, it makes you proud of the epic trails world class on our doorstep.  Standing on the second step of the podium is Half the Road. If you compare the London 2012 Men’s Olympic Road Race to the Women's’, by far the better race was the latter but Women cyclists are still treated by governing bodies, sponsors and race organisers as second class citizens. This documentary explores this disparity in pay, profile and events between Men’s and Women’s cycling. It’s thought provoking but still full of laugh out loud humour and not at all preachy.  When we decided to create an award for bike films a couple of years ago, we were delighted that Steve Peat agreed to lend his name to it but we didn’t realise he was going to make a film. Won’t Back Down is a juggernaut of a romp through his career and the evolution of the sport and, in a peloton of great bike films, is a clear breakaway winner. The development of the bikes and riding styles is fantastic to see, Shaun Palmer’s lamé gold suit and crown never fails to raise a smile and, with interviews from Steve’s contemporaries such as the living legend Rob Warner, it’s a complete chronicle of downhill."

On Viral Films he added:  "When trails Martyn Ashton was left paralysed after an accident in a demonstration, his Road Bike Party 2 project was left unfinished. Fortunately, his mates Danny MacAskill and Chris Akrigg stepped up to the plate and the result is phenomenal. Clocking up over a million views in under 24 hours, the riding is unbelievable, especially the reverse downhill endo, and made it a clear winner of our Gold Award.  If it’s supposed to move and doesn’t squirt it with WD40 and if it’s not supposed to move but is, wrap it in duct tape. All the DIY knowledge you’ll ever need but we’re sure, although duct tape has served some fairly extreme jobs, it’s manufacturers never envisaged it enabling a paraplegic to experience surfing. That’s just what Pascale Honore and her friend Tyron Swan have done in this amazing, uplifting and wonderfully shot film that scoops up our Silver Award.  In 2012 Danny MacAskill picked up a Gold Award for Best Bike Film at ShAFF for Industrial Revolutions but, with his significant input into Road Bike Party 2, we’re sure he’ll be happy with a Bronze in the Viral Films category this year for Imaginate. The concept of his childhood bedroom, complete with a Rubix Cube, toy soldiers and a Hot Wheels loop the loop, is a brilliant way for him to again display his staggering riding skills."

Festival PR Lissa Cook addded, "In the past couple of weeks, there's been a big debate about the lack of women in adventure sport.  It's an issue the festival is hugely committed to.  Spice Girl, Half the Road, Maidentrip, Careless Torque, Duct Tape Surfing and Keeper of the Mountains have all won awards solely on merit.  They feature a range of very different women from all walks of life challenging themselves and hopefully inspiring the next generation.  If you're a female adventure sports filmmaker or athlete, please get in touch."


REACTION FROM FILMMAKERS:

Fitz Cahill, owner & creative director of Duct Tape Then Beer and Director of our Grand Prize Winner, The Road From Karakol (which also scooped Silver in the Spirit of Adventure category) said:  "It's amazing to know that our film Road From Karakol has found a home, audience and community at ShAFF.  It wasn't flashy. Right from the start though, all of us at Duct Tape Then Beer knew it had heart personified by its incredible main character -- Kyle. It's incredibly humbling that you would honored Kyle and us with this award.  I believe that story and heart matter -- more so than giant budgets or helicopter shots. This is incredible validation of that belief.  Thank you esteemed jury."

Greg Chaney, Director - Life on Ice, Best Spirit of Adventure Film, said: "Young children are some of the most enthusiastic, adaptable, determined, and resilient people you'll ever meet. They may not tie their own shoes or wipe their own bottoms, but their very inexperience makes them perfect expedition partners. They're cheerfully fascinated by the streams of water flowing through a flooded tent, and think it's just as ordinary to see a bear as a movie. All young children, given the chance, exemplify the Spirit of Adventure."

Erin McKittrick, 'star' of Life on Ice, said, "I would like everyone at the ShaFF festival to know what a tremendous honor it is to be receiving the Best Spirit of Adventure Film Award!  I wish it would have been possible to attend your event.  One of the main reasons I put this documenatry together was to inspire people to take their children into the wilderness and experience adventures.  The future belongs to the young explorers of today. Thank you for including our show in your program."

The Sweetgrass Productions team who made Valhalla, winner of the Best Ski/Board Film (Gold) and winner of Best Film (Silver) awards, said:  "For 2 years we've been living Valhalla, surrounding ourselves with people who truly ride the wild tide, and, as this film lands on your screen, we hope some of that awful disease of freedom rubs off on you. Never be afraid to howl like a wolf, to rip out your grass, sell everything you own, and take to the road. We are all wild creatures, always in need of adventure, challenge, and excitement. The wilderness awaits, and a huge thank you to you all, Sheffield, and the fine folks at Patagonia for supporting such international terrorists."

Iiro Seppanen, producer of Heaven's Gate, winner of Best Adrenaline Film (Gold) Award and winner of the Best Film (Bronze) Award said: "We are honoured to received this award at the Sheffield Adventure Film Festival and we want to thank you all judges for this recognition."
Heaven's Gate Director, Nic Good, added:  "There is no better way to reward a film making team! I would like to thank all involved, from start to finish!  It was a pleasure working with all of you and here's to completing the next one."

Ben Stookesberry, Director of Walled In, winner of Best Adrenaline Film (Bronze) Award, said, "For Walled In to take the Bronze, and to be listed along side McConkey, and Heaven's Gate is an incredible honor both for our team and for Kayaking.  Unlike other extreme sports, Expedition Kayaking is a team endeavor and in accepting this honor I would like to recognize Chris Korbulic, Forrest Noble, Jared Johnson, and Eric Seymour for making the dream of descending the Marble Gorge a reality!"
 

Llion Iwan, Content Commissioner: Factual and Sport at S4C, said, “75 Byth Rhy Hen (75 Never Too Old) is a documentary that celebrates life, the strength of spirit and realising dreams. It’s inspirational, with Eric and Jeremy’s talent and charming nature. Congratulations to them both”  75 Byth Rhy Hen won Best Climbing Film (Silver).

Matan Rochlitz, director of The Runners, winner of our Trail Running Magazine Best Running Film Award, from Banyak Films said, "We managed to win an award at the Sheffield Adventure Film Festival with a film which features only people jogging. How cool is that?  Thanks to the judging panel for seeing how adventures can happen on sheer mountain cliffs as well as on drizzly London runs."

Director of Why We Run, Winner of Trail Running Magazine Best Running Film (Silver) Award, Dean Leslie said:  "I feel incredibly privileged to have had the chance to share a small part of Bernd Heinrich's approach to running and life. I am humbled and thrilled that ShAFF and Trail Running Magazine have recognized our little film with this award. Here's to Bernd!"

Kathryn Bertine, Director of Half the Road, winner of Steve Peat Best Bike Film (Silver) Award, said: "I am overjoyed to receive this honor as a co-winner of the Steve Peat Best
Bike Film Award. Our goal on this film was to reach people, and to perhaps make a difference--not just for women's cycling, but for the whole sport.  Thank you so much for deeming our film successful in this manner."

Mike Douglas, Producer/Director at Switchback films who picked up Best Artistic Film (Gold) for The Burn, said: 'The Switchback team is thrilled and honoured to pick up this award at the 2014 ShAFF! A special mention to director, Jeff Thomas, and VFX master, Blair Richmond, who poured their heart and souls into this project. Acknowledgements like this make the all tedious hours in the edit suite go by just a little faster. Thanks!'

Joel Wolpert, Producer / Director of In the High Country, winner of Trail Running Magazine Best Running Film (Bronze) Award, said:
"The ShAFF Bronze Award is the first award that In the High Country has won. It's an honor to be mentioned next to such great films as The Runners and Why We Run."

Tom Richards (Furnival Media), Director of North, winner of the Steve Peat Best Bike Film (Bronze) Award, said:
"When I started filming North I wanted to produce a film that was exactly how I envisioned it in my mind. I filmed it with the intention of submitting it into the Sheffield Adventure Film Festival but I wasn't expecting it to get chosen. When I found out it had been selected for screening I was overwhelmed, I have dreamed of having a film shown on the big screen for many years. So when I got the email through telling me I had won the bronze prize in the bike films category, I was ecstatic. I still am now. I am very much looking forward to seeing North and all the other incredible films on the big screen."

Jillian Schlesinger, Director of Maidentrip, Winner of Best Spirit of Adventure Film (Bronze) said: We are so honored for Maidentrip to win Bronze in Best Spirit of Adventure Film. On behalf of everyone who worked on the film and especially Laura, this prize means so much to us. Spirit of adventure was such an essential aspect of Laura's daring pursuit as well as our journey to make the film and we're thrilled to have that aspect of the project acknowledged and celebrated. Thank you!!"

Allison Otto, Director of Keeper of the Mountains, which received the Judges 'Special Mention' said: "Thank you so much for a Special Mention award and for sharing Elizabeth Hawley's story. She is still meeting with expeditions in Kathmandu and her archives are still available through the Himalayan Database. You've put together a fantastic festival, and I'm so thrilled by this award!! I truly appreciate it."