Aviemore Adventure Film Festival 2016 - 22-24 April Press Release

© Aviemore Adventure Film Festival

The Aviemore Adventure Film Festival is a weekend long festival with a superb line-up of events for the outdoor enthusiast & adventurer- with uplifting talks from top climbers and mountaineers, mountain bikers, kayakers and filmmakers, together with exhilarating film screenings from the outdoor world- with something for everyone, from armchair adventurers to weekend warriors.

Includes Guest Speakers: Dave Macleod, Leo Houlding, Lee Craigie, Erin Bastian & Luke Robertson.

The Festival kicks off on Friday 22nd April with the screening of the inspiring Scottish film “Transition” following young competition climber Natalie Berry as she starts off on her climbing career- transition from indoor to outside, plastic to rock and ice. Following the film, world class climber Dave MacLeod will give a guest lecture entitled: “What Are You Afraid Of?” exploring the ideas that defined his progress to making first ascents of some of the world’s hardest rock and ice climbs and how he reflected from other climbers he’s coached and ideas from outside sport to improve his own performance.

Our programme on Saturday is jam-packed with exciting films & inspiring talks. On Saturday morning, we have the screening of “Eiger Paraclimb: Defiance” (2015, dir: Euan Ryan) following the team of three British paraclimbers as they aim to break down the stigmas & stereotypes regarding disability and climbing by tackling the mighty Eiger mountain in Switzerland. Saturday afternoon sees the screening of the film “A Line Across the Sky” (2015, dir: Josh Lowell) featuring two of the worlds best climbers- Alex Honnold & Tommy Caldwell as they make a fast & light attempt on the entire Fitz Roy Massif mountain range in one continuous traverse. This is followed up by an inspiring talk from Luke Robertson- who after being diagnosed with a life-threatening illness in 2012, came back to undertake a self-supported expedition to Antartica and in January 2015, became the first Scot and the youngest Brit to ski unsupported to the South Pole. 

Luke Robertson: the first Scot and the youngest Brit to ski unsupported to the South Pole  © Luke Robertson
Luke Robertson: the first Scot and the youngest Brit to ski unsupported to the South Pole
© Luke Robertson

Saturday night is the highlight of the weekend with the screening of the epic movie “The Last Great Climb” (2014, dir: Alistair Lee). The film follows top British climber & adventurer Leo Houlding (and his trusted team) as they attempt to climb one of the last great unclimbed routes in Antartica: the Northeast ridge of Ulvetanna (2931m). Battling the tough conditions and deteriorating weather, the team are pushed to the edge, attempting to defy the odds and dwindling supplies to summit. 

Following the film, we will be welcoming Leo Houlding to the stage to talk about the film and his adventure / outdoor career so far. His lecture entitled: “Mirror Wall- Reflections” discusses his recent expedition to complete the first ascent of the 1200m Mirror Wall on a remote peak in north-east Greenland. This was Leo’s first expedition since becoming a father and it was his daughter's second birthday while he was on one of the most difficult sections of the climb. It was also just over a year since the death of his long-time climbing partner and close friend, Sean 'Stanley' Leary, in a wingsuit flying accident. Leo will talk about the conflict between a life of extreme adventure, and the responsibilities and homely joys of fatherhood, set against an undying drive for the next great quest.

Leo Houlding will be giving a lecture entitled “Mirror Wall- Reflections”   © Alistair Lee
Leo Houlding will be giving a lecture entitled “Mirror Wall- Reflections”
© Alistair Lee

Sunday is another action packed day with film screenings in the morning of “The Flying Frenchies: Back to the Fjords”- (follow up to the original highly acclaimed “I believe I can fly: Flight of the Frenchies”) and “Shifting Ice & Changing Tides” (following six women as they set sail for Greenland in search of virgin piste to explore and ski).  In the afternoon we will be showing the recently released local film “Cape Wrath” following mountain bikers Lee Craigie & Andy Toop as they make the journey up to the most remote piece of land on the UK mainland: Cape Wrath. To reach the lighthouse is a real mission requiring boats and a long walk or ride. The challenge is all the more 

Following the film Mountain Biker Lee Craigie will be giving a guest lecture. Lee became the British Mountain Bike Champion in 2013 and represented Scotland at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. However, the secret to her sporting success lay in her love of exploring big mountains by bike - and this is still her driving passion. Her lecture entitled “Leaps of Faith” discusses her past & recent adventures: including her epic unsupported off-road traverse of the French Alps on a fat bike and gives a behind the scenes look at the making of the film Cape Wrath.

Mountain Biker Lee Craigie will be giving a guest lecture  © Kirk Watson
Mountain Biker Lee Craigie will be giving a guest lecture
© Kirk Watson

The festival is topped off with our Sunday Night programme- including the inspiring film “Nobody’s River” following four American kayakers as they hope to make the descent of one of the world’s longest & last free flowing rivers- the Amur river in Mongolia. However it’s a kayaking adventure during which nothing goes exactly as planned. Although there is not even one dam that blocks the course of the 3,000km river, lots of other obstacles stand in their way and the expedition is overshadowed by a heavy blow of fate even before the adventure starts.

The film will be followed by an inspiring talk from Kayaking Expeditioner Erin Bastian. Erin has been in love with the outdoors since an early age and has organised and led many kayaking expeditions all around the world, including: Paddling 800km down the West coast of Patagonia and Circumnavigating (paddling) both Corsica and Sardinia. In her lecture she will talk about what she has learnt from a lifetime of adventures in the outdoors and reflect on some of the challenges she has faced during our kayaking expeditions.

Kayakers from the Nobody’s River Film  © Amber Valenti
Kayakers from the Nobody’s River Film
© Amber Valenti

Outside of the main film events & talks there will be skills workshops and taster sessions being offered by local adventure companies- as well as our exhibition hall- hosting outdoor equipment manufacturers (and their latest products). 

AAFF is a family orientated event and as such we are offering a range of ticket options to suit everyone. Individual Session Tickets start from £9 (adults) £7 (students & concessions) and £6.50 (Under 18s). Children under 12 go FREE (if accompanied by an adult). 
Full Festival Passes cost £46 (adults), £42 (students & concessions).
We also offer a special Family PASS for £104 for any combination of 1-2 adults with up to 4 children- offering great value should you wish to bring the kids along!

The festival is community run and not-for-profit, and proceeds from this year’s festival will be going to support the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team. 

For more information or to buy tickets, go to: http://www.aviemoreadventure.org 

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aviemoreadventureff 

Twitter - https://twitter.com/AviemoreAFF 

Hashtag:  #AAFF2016

 


Aviemore Adventure Film Festival Logo  © Aviemore Adventure Film Festival
The Aviemore Adventure Film Festival is a non-profit organisation run by a group of local volunteers who love the outdoors. Our aim is to share this passion with you and inspire people to get outside and find their own passion for adventure. Our festival also does outreach work with local charities and schools, working with young people in the area- to hopefully inspire the next generation of outdoor sports enthusiasts.

The Aviemore Adventure Film Festival wish to thank the following sponsors and supporters – Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports, Leki, Ardblair Sports, Visit Cairngorms, The Great Outdoors (TGO) Magazine, Cairngorm Adventure Guides, Macdonald Hotel & Resort Aviemore.

 





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