Sheffield Adventure Film Festival Awards – And the winner is…
Steck Ueli in the magnificent 'The Swiss Machine'
Drum roll please… The winners of the Sheffield Adventure Film Festival Awards have been announced ahead of the festival, which starts this evening.
Best Film
The Swiss Machine – featuring Ueli Steck (Sender Films)
Stunning aerial footage of Ueli Steck’s record-breaking speed ascents in the Alps. THE SWISS MACHINE charts the amazing feats of perhaps the greatest speed alpinist the world has ever seen. Ueli literally races up 8,000 foot mountains doing in hours what other mountaineers take days to achieve.
Commendations – Eastern Rises (Felt Soul Media) & Salt (Jerrycan Films)
Sponsored by Jagged Globe
Judge Lucy Creamer says: “With the incredibly high standards of this years entrants we had a task on our hands choosing the winners, many categories were closely fought. But the best film didn’t need too much discussion as The Swiss Machine really did stand out for many reasons. Quality photography combined with a great score and of course the understated star, Ueli Steck. This film has you gripping your seat, even if you know the outcome. To capture these ascents on film is truly amazing. Watch and cry!”
Best Film details & trailers:
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The Steve Peat Award For The Best Bike Film (a new award for 2011)
Winner – Race Across The Sky (Citizen Pictures)
Commendations – Way Back Home (Dave Sowerby) & Here We Go Again (DH Productions LLC)
Sponsored by Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative
Judge Nik Cook says: “One of the most iconic cross-country mountain bike races in the world, a duel between the home-grown hero and the world’s most famous cyclist, Race Across the Sky is an epic in the true sense of the word. The sheer number of YouTube hits for Way Back Home speaks volumes and Danny’s bike skills are mind-blowing. Fusing music and biking, Way Back Home is downhill jumps and biking thrills at their best.”
Best Bike film details & trailers:
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Best Climbing Film
Winner – The Prophet (Alastair Lee, Posing Productions)
Commendations – Tuzgle (Baraka Films) & Crackoholic (A High & Low/Plonk Entertainment Production)
Sponsored by UKClimbing
Judge Lucy Creamer says: “Al Lee and Leo Houlding are no strangers to winning awards, so why break the habit of a lifetime. The Prophet has a great behind the scenes story of human endeavour and what it takes to make these ground breaking routes become reality; combined with great climbing footage. Prepare to be inspired.”
Best Climbing film details & trailers:
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Best Adrenaline Film
Winner – Dream Result (Rush Sturges and Tyler Bradt)
Commendations – Last Paradise (Clive Neeson) & Halo Effect (Fish Munga)
Sponsored by Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative
Judge Lucy Creamer says: “A very competitive category this year with great variety but was dominated by the kayakers. Dream Result hopefully won’t inspire you to throw yourself down a giant waterfall but the passion and joy these hardcore guys get from their sport is evident and contagious.”
Best Adrenaline Film details and trailers:
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Best Spirit Of Adventure Film
Winner – Baffin Babes(Kristin Folsland Olsen)
Commendations – Mazungu (Phil Harwood) & The Giant Of The South (Marcus Taylor)
Sponsored by Hammer Design
Judge Si Homfray says: “The Spirit of Adventure category does what it says on the tin, it is all about the adventure, the heart and soul of getting out there and getting to grips with the challenges of where man meets nature. In Baffin Babes, it’s where woman meets nature and beautifully does it too. We felt that this film had just that and then some. And if you’ve read Heart Of Darkness, Blood River or The Poisonwood Bible you’ll know just what a nuts, gnarly and insane trip Phil Harwood undertook canoeing solo down the mighty Congo in Mazungu.”
Best Spirit of Adventure Film details & trailers:
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Best Cultural Film
Winner – Skatiestan (Grain Media)
Commendations – A Life Ascending (Stephen Grynberg) & Indulgence – 1,000 Miles Under A Colorado Sky (Negative Split Pictures)
Sponsored by Sheffield Telegraph
Judge Nik Cook: “Skatiestan is an inspiring example of how sport can bring hope to even the most devastated communities. A Life Ascending shows how one man and his family immerse themselves in the culture of the mountains and embrace it in spite of its dangers. Indulgence gives a thought-provoking insight into the ethos of ultra-distance running and why some people choose to push themselves to the limit.”
Best Cultural film details & trailers:
Indulgence 100 Miles Under A Colorado Sky
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Best Artistic Film (a new award for 2011)
Winner – Salt (Jerrycan Films)
Commendations – Chimaera (Sherpas Cinema) & Lifecycles (Stance Films)
Sponsored by Hammer Design
Judge Si Homfrey: “Salt certainly had an impact on the judges. We all felt it was worthy of an award, so we had to create one. It is worth it. It’s more than one man’s photographic journey to the deserted salt pans of central Australia, it’s beautiful, moving, honest and a work of art. Enjoy!”
Best Artistic Film details & trailers
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Best Short Film
Winner – Dark Side Of The Lens(Mickey Smith, Relentless Energy)
Commendations – Way Back Home (Dave Sowerby) & Wild Swim (Kate Rew)
Sponsored by Jagged Globe
Judge Nik Cook says: “The short film category was one of the strongest this year. But Dark Side of the Lens was a unanimous choice. As well as being visually stunning, the thought-provoking narrative on the film-maker’s choice of lifestyle inspired and resonated with us all. The sheer number of YouTube hits for Way Back Home speaks volumes and Danny’s bike skills are mind-blowing. Wild Swim’s footage of Kate Rew outdoor swimming in The Lakes is a real change of pace. Beautiful & understated film-making, it’s one of the few films of a sport in a location anyone can go and experience.”
Best Short film details & trailers:
