CONGRATULATIONS TO THE #SHAFF2015 AWARD WINNERS
Sheffield Adventure Film Festival organisers are today announcing the #ShAFF2015 film awards ahead of this weekend’s festival (March 20-22) including four new categories for Best Soundtrack, Best Women In Adventure Film, Rapha Best Road Cycling Film and Sixt Rent A Car Best Made in Sheffield Film.
The weekend long festival – presented by Rab and supporting Sheffield’s Helipad Appeal – attracts more than three thousand visitors. With 116 of the best adventure, extreme sports and travel films handpicked from all over the world, organisers Heason Events reckon they now show more films than any other adventure festival anywhere in the world.
Click on the winning film to see its session time and date and to buy tickets. We will also be screening Festival Director Matt Heason's pick of the festival in a special Best of ShAFF 2015 screening at 18.45 on Sunday.
Best Film – Grand Prize - DamNation
Silver - The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young
Bronze - Valley Uprising
Judges Special Mention: Derby Crazy Love
The Climbing Works Best Climbing Film (Gold) - Stone Free
Silver - Project Mina
Bronze - Redemption
‘Steve Peat’ Best Biking Film (Gold) - Danny MacAskill - The Ridge
Silver - Lines of Lofoten
Bronze – Road Bike Party 2 - Behind the Scenes
The Rapha Best Road Cycling Film (Gold) - Come On, Eileen
Silver - Old Grey & Fast
Bronze - Davis & Connie
Best Running Film (Gold) - The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young
Silver - Finding Traction
Bronze - Just Keep Running
Best Ski & Board Film (Gold) - Vasu Sojitra – Out On A Limb
Silver - Almost Ablaze
Bronze - Sugar Mountain
Best Adrenaline Film (Gold) - El Sendero Luminoso
Silver - The Balloon Highline
Bronze - Wedge
Best Short Film (Gold) - Jack
Silver - Movement Of Three
Bronze - iPaddle
The Boulder Creek International Best Spirit Of Adventure (Gold) - In The Frame
Silver - Megamoon
Bronze - Nobody’s River
The Sixt Rent A Car Best Made in Sheffield Film (Gold) - No Sleep Till Bakewell
Silver - Forged
Bronze - A Front Door Adventure
Best Women in Adventure Film (Gold) - Finding Traction
Silver - Come On, Eileen
Bronze - Derby Crazy Love
Best Artistic Film (Gold) - Vermillion
Silver - Ghost Peleton
Bronze - Afterglow (full length)
Best Soundtrack (Gold) - Derby Crazy Love
Silver - DamNation
Bronze - A Front Door Adventure
WHAT OUR JUDGES SAID:
BEST FILM – GRAND PRIZE - DAMNATION
Silver - The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young
Bronze - Valley Uprising
Judges Special Mention: Derby Crazy Love
Festival Director Matt Heason said, “It’s interesting in a year characterised by lots of short films, the best three films were judged to be feature length documentaries.”
“This year’s Grand Prize winner DamNation is a rare film in that it combines great cinematography with a superb soundtrack, and also a really important message. The Barkley Marathons was my personal favourite of the festival this year. I think I benefited from not knowing anything whatsoever about the race or the devious course, and was drawn in by some very competent filmmaking and a cracking story. Valley Uprising has been described as the ‘Riding Giants’ of climbing and is a well-deserved runner up showcasing the history of climbing in Yosemite.”
“Derby Crazy Love was a close contender for the Grand Prize award coming high up on the judges’ shortlists. It won our Best Soundtrack (Gold) award and Best Women In Adventure (Bronze) award and we have therefore given it a Special Mention as a recommendation to the ShAFF audience to go and see it.”
The Climbing Works Best Climbing Film (Gold) - Stone Free
Silver - Project Mina
Bronze - Redemption
ShAFF Judge, Claire Carter, said: “Our three winning films unearthed the personal drives of three very different British climbers. Stone Free finds Julian Lines alone and solo in vast Scottish vistas. Quiet and considered, Line’s provides a refreshing subject matter for Alistair Lee’s typically impressive cinematography.”
“Jen Randall encourages her subject to do the talking in Project Mina and captures an unguarded, personal perspective through the noise and flash of the international competition scene.”
“In Redemption, Paul Diffley tells the story of a unforgiving climbing tribe, as James Pearson attempts to redeem his appallingly un-British lack of understatement. Will they let him back on the Grit? You’ll have to wait for Redemption 2.”
“Not quite on the podium, but pawing at the sides was Monkey in Wonderland. Full of glee, gadding about in rad scenery. This is what climbing is. Go watch it.”
‘Steve Peat’ Best Biking Film (Gold) - Danny MacAskill - The Ridge
Silver - Lines of Lofoten
Bronze – Road Bike Party 2 - Behind the Scenes
ShAFF Senior Judge and adventure sports writer Nik Cook, said, “With almost 31 million views on YouTube, Danny MacAskill’s The Ridge has been the bike film of 2014/15. We didn’t want to be snowballed by this success but, by taking his trials skills onto mountain terrain, he’s raised his vertiginously high bar yet again and scooped our Gold award. The riding is technically staggering and some of the POV footage made this a contender in the Adrenaline category too. If you’ve seen this film on your laptop and were impressed, on the big screen it’ll blow you away.”
“If you’re going to make mountain bike porn, making it as visually stunning as our Silver winning film, Lines of Lofoten, is the way to elevate it to another level. There were plenty of films this year that delivered more narrative but the beauty of the setting and the technicality of the riding simply meant we couldn’t ignore this film.”
“Picking up the Bronze is Road Bike Party 2 - Behind the Scenes. Road Bike Part 2 picked up our Best Viral Film Gold last year and shows trials legends Martyn Ashton, Chris Akrigg and Danny MacAskill doing the impossible on Colnago road bikes. The story behind it though, focussing on Martyn Ashton’s life changing accident, goes behind the joviality of the film and is a fascinating study of risk versus reward, friendship and perseverance.”
The Rapha Best Road Cycling Film (Gold) - Come On, Eileen
Silver - Old Grey & Fast
Bronze - Davis & Connie
ShAFF Senior Judge and adventure sports writer Nik Cook, said, “When I first became involved with ShAFF it was primarily a climbing film festival. Since then it has embraced the full spectrum of adventure sports and is now casting its film sourcing net even wider. As a confirmed Roadie, who happens to also mountain bike, the inclusion of a Road Cycling Film category is especially pleasing.”
“Is road cycling an adventure sport though? Well, you can certainly have adventures on a road bike and, in the case of our Gold Medal winner, you can definitely be a ground breaking pioneer on one. The massive support on the roadsides for the 2014 Tour de France’s dalliance with Yorkshire shows the popularity of the sport in the area among cyclists and non-cyclists alike so, I say, forget pigeon holing activities as adventure or non adventure and just celebrate great films whether they involve lycra or not. Anyway, justification over, onto the awards.”
“A unanimous choice for the judging panel, Come On, Eileen was also a serious contender for the festival Grand Prize Winner podium. One of Britain’s greatest ever cyclists, this story of the life and achievements of Eileen Sheridan, interweaves archive footage and a dramatic reconstruction of her incredible 1954 LEJOG record ride, to produce one of the must watch films of the festival and our Road Cycling Gold medal winner.”
“My wife often jokes that I’ll be the gnarled old man on his road bike still grinding out the miles and I take this as a massive compliment. Colin Lewis is an ex-pro who rode in the Tour de France and the Olympics and, now in his 70s, still rides. His stories, love of life and the new daily challenges he now has to overcome, make Old Grey and Fast an inspiration for all and a worthy winner of our Silver award.”
“In third place is Davis and Connie which looks at the lives of Davis Phinney and Connie Carpenter-Phinney, two of America’s most decorated cyclists and the golden couple of the 1983 Los Angeles Olympics. Amazing archive footage of the couple racing, interviews with contemporaries and Davis’s subsequent battle with Parkinson’s disease make this a fascinating, compelling and emotional watch.”
Best Running Film (Gold) - The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young
Silver - Finding Traction
Bronze - Just Keep Running
Claire Maxted, ShAFF Judge and editor of Trail Running magazine, said, “The Barkley Marathons is not only a great running film, but also a fantastic story that will have runners and non-runners alike on the edge of their seats as the plot unravels. You mustn't miss the tale of this crazy, crazy footrace through a spooky, spiky forest organised by an even crazier character. You'll be astounded by the twists and turns the story makes, aghast at the blisters and suffering endured, and rooting for the under dog and cheering for the lead guys all at the same time. The ending beggars belief, but I won't spoil it for you of course. If you don't get to see anything else at the festival – watch this one, it's the perfect combination of storytelling and running.”
“Finding Traction is an absolutely astounding, raw, un-cut insight into the massive highs and lows of undertaking an exhausting 5-day running challenge. Top US long distance trail runner Nikki Kimball tackles the 273-mile Long Trail speed record in Vermont to show just what women are capable of. Will the three times Western States winner beat the men's record? Or smash the women's record? You'll be biting your nails and shouting, "Come on Nikki!" at the screen under your breath like we were. Find out, and be inspired by Nikki's fierce passion for getting more girls loving trail running.”
“Just Keep Running is a beautifully crafted profile of one of New Zealand's finest trail athletes, Ruby Muir. It provides a rare insight into the story behind this publicity-shy athlete combined with awe-inspiring shots of her tearing up the wildest trails. You won't fail to be wowed by the way this multi ultra marathon winner flies over rocky terrain and twisting single track, and you'll understand why running became her obsession and how competing causes its own battles in her mind. Warning: watching this will make you want to put on your trail shoes immediately and hit the Peak District at speed!”
“The Set of Wainwrights film starring Berghaus athlete Steve Birkinshaw was a close contender for an award as an incredible achievement by a well-loved British mountain runner. Soaring shots of the sunny Lake District summits combine with laugh-out-loud interviews with Steve as he quietly sinks further and further into exhaustion and sleep deprivation to produce a very watchable film that will have you bursting with 'How on earth?" questions for Steve's talk and Q&A session with Trail Running magazine at 3pm on Sunday 22 March.” (The audience also gets the chance to win two £60 Berghaus backpacks.)
“We also very much enjoyed a couple of shorter films, Race the Tube and Fun Running. Race the Tube is an entertainingly nail-biting Go-Pro-led piece about a guy racing the tube for one stop – will he make it? Everyone on the tube wants to know too!”
“Fun Running shows what a great selection of shots are shootable on the humble iPhone, with a too-cute story of a young, local boy trying to beat the adults on a Strava section on a nearby hill. Filming by dad and singing by little sister complete this inspiring package. If they can do it, so can you!”
Best Ski & Board Film (Gold) - Vasu Sojitra – Out On A Limb
Silver - Almost Ablaze
Bronze - Sugar Mountain
ShAFF Judge Claire Carter, said, “Vasu Sojitra – Out On A Limb is ski mountaineering on one leg. He drops in, hikes up, stands, stares and giggles. This is a brilliant short ski film, wild lines, beautiful snowscapes, hella-cool characters, tight narration. Move over Xavier de la Rue, this is a real snow gangster!”
“Almost Ablaze is almost standard ski fare, big production, big shots, big drops, but then the cast visit the ‘84 Olympic Venues in Sarajevo, and it’s almost too much to watch - ski porn grows up.”
“In Sugar Mountain we see what really happens on the search for the big drop on an Alaskan Glacier. It’s terrifying, and resoundingly creative. The team wade up gullies in massively unstable zones to be confronted by Double Decker cornices. These are real ski-adventurers.”
“We also loved kOnneX - another original short ski film from Hanno Mackowitz demonstrating how film can nail kinaesthetic experience.”
Best Adrenaline Film (Gold) - El Sendero Luminoso
Silver - The Balloon Highline
Bronze - Wedge
ShAFF Senior Judge and adventure sports writer Nik Cook, said: “A great adrenaline film doesn’t have to be in your face, a thrash metal soundtrack isn’t obligatory and there’s no need for the words awesome, rad or gnarly to be uttered. What is does have to do though is make you feel a little sick in your stomach and to leave you marvelling at the skill and probably questioning the sanity of the participants. Our three award winners definitely tick those boxes.”
“Our Best Adrenaline (Gold) prize winning film El Sendero Luminoso proves that an adrenaline film can be quiet and understated. Just letting the potential consequences of a mistake draw you to edge of your seat. There’s a fascinating juxtaposition between the apparent calm of Alex Honnold as he climbs the 2500 ft rock-face with the nervous wreck that you will be watching it. The wide pull-out shot which reveals the enormity of what he’s tackling is probably one of the most memorable images of the entire festival.”
“Nobody does nutty like the French and in Balloon Highline, the adrenaline goes hand in hand with eccentricity and a certain Gallic flair. You know they have parachutes on but it makes no difference, you still get a flutter in your stomach with every wobble and fall.”
“Receiving Bronze is Wedge. An infamously heavy shore break at Newport Beach California, the surfers line up to take it on and, one by one, get chewed up and spat out. A compulsive watch, you can almost feel the crushing weight of the water accompanying every monumental wipe out.”
Best Short Film (Gold) - Jack
Silver - Movement Of Three
Bronze - iPaddle
ShAFF Judge and Deputy Editor of Pro MovieMaker magazine, Zena Toscani, said, “In the short film category, Jack really resonated with us – not only did it depict and enduring tale of love and adventure but you could tell by the intimacy of framing and precise editing that this short had been crafted with much care and admiration resulting in a film that truly connects with the viewer. As a person and a film Jack is certainly something to aspire to.”
“Documenting the skill and fluidity of parkour presents a challenge for filmmakers which Movement of Three definitely rose to. This film stood out, not only for the incredible talents of the performers but for the choreography and structure of the filmmaking and post production which delivered a highly engaging and inspiring film.”
“One of the most challenging genres of filmmaking in general, let alone adventure filmmaking, has to be comedy. So we are very pleased to award our bronze medal in this category to iPaddle which is a truly funny parody of this genre and social media. The technicality of the filmmaking is spot on so viewers will have no distractions as they watch and laugh along and no doubt reconsider their next awesome YouTube video.”
The Boulder Creek International Best Spirit Of Adventure (Gold) - In The Frame
Silver - Megamoon
Bronze - Nobody’s River
Festival Director, Matt Heason, said, “The Spirit Of Adventure award was introduced to ShAFF early on. It’s really an award aimed more at the journey or activity that the protagonists are taking part in as opposed to the production values of the actual film – i.e. it’s about the spirit of the film.”
“In The Frame describes Joe Beaumont’s indomitable spirit as, post climbing accident, he grits his teeth and tackles his demons as well as a bike ride. Megamoon is a great example of how any of us can turn a common event into something more spirited, as a newly-wed couple ramp up their honeymoon in name as well as nature, cycling the longest mountain bike trail in the world! Nobody’s River has spirit in spades as four female kayakers take on a mighty Russian river despite a serious emotional setback.”
The Sixt Rent A Car Best Film Made in Sheffield (Gold) - No Sleep Till Bakewell
Silver - Forged
Bronze - A Front Door Adventure
Festival Director, Matt Heason, said, “I’m over the moon that in our tenth year we are able, for the first time, to introduce a film session dedicated entirely to films made in and around Sheffield (or made by filmmakers living in or around the city).”
“The pick of these was No Sleep Till Bakewell which sees our favourite climbing duo Pete Whittaker and Tom Randall tackling yet another mighty gritstone climbing challenge.”
“Forged, is an exciting new mountain bike film produced by former Sheffield Hallam University student Tom Richards featuring local riders riding local trails and roads.”
“A Front Door Adventure is one of those films that on paper doesn’t sound hugely appealing, but each time I watch it, it draws me in and leaves me grinning at the end, not just because it shows off the beauty of the Peak District, but it’s another example of a micro adventure that any of us could do, tomorrow, if we choose too.”
Best Women in Adventure Film (Gold) - Finding Traction
Silver - Come On, Eileen
Bronze - Derby Crazy Love
ShAFF Women In Adventure Judge, Hayley Lever, Co-director of Derbyshire Sport, said: “Finding Traction was the stand out film of the festival for me, featuring 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.”
“Come On, Eileen shows that despite what we may think, women have been awesome for generations. Eileen Sheridan, from Coventry was breaking records in great style, with five 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.”
“Derby Crazy Love is a fascinating insight into the counter culture that exists around the fast and furious, aggressive team sport of Roller Derby. 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.”
Best Artistic Film (Gold) - Vermillion
Silver - Ghost Peleton
Bronze - Afterglow (full length)
ShAFF Judge and Deputy Editor of Pro MovieMaker magazine, Zena Toscani, said, “The best artistic film for this year has been awarded to a film which was in the shortlist of overall favourite film for many of the judges.”
“Vermillion beautifully captures the serenity and lyricism of fly fishing but doesn’t hold back in the creativity department when it comes to editing. With stunning slow motion sequences tailed by rapid jump cuts the pace of the film echoes that which you might experience when out on the water. Expect to feel the camaraderie and be transported into this tranquil world with Vermillion’s sun-seared colour grade and dreamy cinematography – this film truly is a visual treat for cinephiles and outdoor lovers.”
“Not only representing the talents of Sheffield, Ghost Peloton pushes the boundaries of creativity which is why we have awarded it Silver in the artistic film category. The mesmerising use of lights and incredible choreography make for a highly engaging short which reframes the usual linear representations of cycling.”
“Afterglow manages to be both awe-inspiring and emotional; the variety of artistic concepts and shots depicted in both of these areas make it a worthy winner of our Bronze award. Not only is the lighting design spectacular in every sense of the word, but the technical skill employed in some of the low-light environments make this a real triumph of a skiing film. Our only criticism would be that the visuals are so aesthetically pleasing that you might momentarily be distracted from the incredible skill of the athletes you are watching!”
Best Soundtrack (Gold) - Derby Crazy Love
Silver - DamNation
Bronze - A Front Door Adventure
ShAFF Soundtrack Judge, DJ and Producer, Paul Hodgson (aka Grievous Angel), said: “We chose Derby Crazy Love because of the emotional impact that came from the combination of the voices of the people, the music that had been used and sheer visceral excitement of the sounds of Roller Derby. The soundtrack represented the impact of seeing marginalised cultures represented in the context of adventure.”
“DamNation won Silver because of the elegant sophistication of the music chosen which coincided perfectly with the narrative development of the film as well as the exquisite editing of it. Altogether this represented the kind of political statement which adventure fans, climbing fans and sports people everywhere can identify with.”
“A Front Door Adventure won Bronze for its representation of the elegiac beauty of the Peak District. The sweetness and melodic power of the music combined with the sampling of natural sounds created a captivating atmosphere which all cinema goers as well as adventure fans will thoroughly enjoy.”
ENDS
Press release: Immediate Release, Monday 16 March 2015
Click here to download a plain text word doc version of this release.
IMAGES
ShAFF logos, posters and film images for editorial use only: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lissacook/sets/72157649740280596/
DamNation Press Photos: http://damnationfilm.com/press
www.shaff.co.uk
@ShefAdvFilmFest #ShAFF2015
facebook.com/SheffieldAdventureFilmFestival
Contact: Lissa Cook, Heason Events, 07818 411 791 / lissa@heason.net