UKH

Very disappointed by the Kendal Mountain Festival player. I signed up for a month on the eve of the festival with a view to watching this year's festival content over the month. About half the content seems to have diappeared already. I didn't see any indication of content being time limited at the point of purchase. Anyone else noticed this?

I think the answer to this revolves around the various films being on a limited time release after the festival, but will have to double check. As such, please bear with whilst I contact Kendal...

Hi Colin, I asked KMF about this and they said:

"This year we were only able to get permission from filmmakers to screen their films on the Player for 10 days (18th - 28th November) - unlike last year where they were available for a lot longer. 

This is partly because in 2020, it was all relatively new for live film festivals to go online and therefore many filmmakers were very supportive (due to the restrictions of covid) and generous in allowing prolonged screening rights at festivals. However as online festivals continue to grow in numbers, filmmakers are now limiting the number of days their films are screened in order to not cross over between festivals and to ensure as wider viewing of their films as possible. It is now the norm to allow viewing period of between 5 - 10 days. You won’t be able to get this content through other Mountain Festivals for any longer.

So in a nutshell what was offered on the player:

Between 18-28 Nov, all Festival content (except for 11 films we couldn't add due to venue-only permissions) including all speakers and specialist events.

From the 28th onwards - the platform has the Festival films that we have been given permission to screen (which is over half that were at the Festival and growing everyday), plus the new films from this year that went straight to digital, plus films from previous years PLUS all the speaker sessions / talks from 2020 & 2021 which will remain on the player. "

Hope that helps and if you'd like me to ask them anything further please just let me know here or via email - theo@ukclimbing.com

Hi Theo

Thanks for chasing this up. I did contact KMF directly as well. They did offer me a refund on the month subscription, which was very fair. Didn't take it up as I have made some use of it. I have suggested that next year 'expiry dates' could be placed on content to help prioritse to avoid missing time limited content.