ShAFF Winners 2011

© Henry Iddon

It was another successful Sheffield Adventure Film Festival at the Showroom in Sheffield which was packed on all three days offering a great variety of films, lectures and social events.

... so without further ado, the winners were.....


The Arc'teryx Photo Shoot-Out

Following the success of this competition last year, when it was won by Alexandre Buisse (UKC report here), Arc'teryx were again the sponsors for this year's shoot out. The five finalists were chosen by Arc'teryx sponsored mountaineer and professional photographer Ian Parnell: Alex Messenger, Henry Iddon (the skiiers in the mist is one of Henry's photos), Rob Eavis, Sam Davies and Steve Crook.

In the end the winner was chosen as Rob Eavis. We have two of the winning entries to show here. So get yourself a drink, put it on full-screen, sit back and enjoy:


The Film Awards

In a departure from the norm, the winners were announced before the festival late last week. Due to the global nature of film making none of the winners were able to attend but several sent messages.

Best Film

Winner – The Swiss Machine (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) and 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!"

Pete Mortimer of Sender Films sent this message: "We would love to make it to ShAFF, but alas no go this time. How do we feel: well, maybe this makes up for the King's Speech winning here? We love this because we know Sheffield is where the best, or at least boldest, climbers in the world live, and we can imagine it's a pretty damn fun festival there."


The Steve Peat Award For The Best Bike Film (a new award for 2011)

The Steve Peat Best Bike Film award is named in honour of Sheffield's downhill mountain bike champion and sponsored by the Sheffield branch of the Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative.

Festival organiser, Matt Heason, says: "The judges [climber Lucy Creamer; adventure sports writer Nik Cook; and photographer and designer Si Homfray] and I have been blown away this year by the quality and quantity of great bike films. And also by the buzz in the biking community in Sheffield about the festival. We've had an expert night with former Olympic cyclist Nick Craig; we're putting on two special bike film screenings and the exclusive showing of Alex Rankin's iconic mountain bike series 'Sprung & Earthed' followed by a Steve Peat Q&A has sold out twice over. This new award is in recognition of the ever increasing popularity of the sport of mountain-biking."

Steve Peat says: "It's a real honour to have an award in my name. Sheffield was where I learnt to bike and I hope these films will inspire a new generation of cyclists."

Winner – Race Across The Sky (Citizen Pictures)

Commendations – Way Back Home (Dave Sowerby) and 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 Climbing Film

Winner – The Prophet (Alastair Lee, Posing Productions)

Commendations – Tuzgle (Baraka Films) and 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."

Al Lee sent the following message: "Psyched that 'The Prophet' and Leo's amazing climbing achievements are recognised, thanks to the judges and to Matt for putting on such a great festival, any award is an important one but Best Climbing Film from Sheffield has a special ring to it, thank-you very much."


Best Adrenaline Film

Winner – Dream Result (Rush Sturges and Tyler Bradt)

Commendations – Last Paradise (Clive Neeson) and 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 Spirit Of Adventure Film

Winner – Baffin Babes (Kristin Folsland Olsen)

Commendations – Mazungu (Phil Harwood) and 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 Cultural Film

Winner – Skatiestan (Grain Media)

Commendations – A Life Ascending (Stephen Grynberg) and 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 Artistic Film (a new award for 2011)

Judge, photographer & designer, Si Homfray, who heads up the Hathersage based web design team, Hammer Design (sponsors of the new Best Artistic Film award) says: "The field of films this year is tremendously strong. I'm proud to sponsor a new award which reflects the amazing creativity of so many of this year's entries."

Winner – Salt (Jerrycan Films)

Commendations – Chimaera (Sherpas Cinema) and 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 Short Film

Winner – Dark Side Of The Lens (Mickey Smith, Relentless Energy)

Commendations – Way Back Home (Dave Sowerby) and 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."


ShAFF is supported by: Jagged Globe, UKClimbing, Hammer Design, Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative, Sheffield Telegraph, Petzl, Arc'teryx and Mammut


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8 Mar, 2011
Thanks for the comments Bellie. Glad you enjoyed it. MattH
Alex's show reel is as inspiring as ever! Awesome!
10 Mar, 2011
Agreed - it's stunning Though Alex Messenger, Naked and Famous brings up some disturbing images ! Meanwhile watching Race across the Sky has got me thinking about doing the Kielder 100 MTB race this year - though I managed to resist the urge to follow the inspiration of Dean Potter's freebasing...
18 Mar, 2011
Aye, I thought I might go and try to canoe solo down the Congo... ;-) MattH
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