ShAFF = 75 epic adventures + 4 big screens + 1 awesome weekend
10th Jan 2012
The 2012 Sheffield Adventure Film Festival programme has just been released and there are more films than ever with over 70 of the best adventure, travel and extreme sports films hand-picked for you from around the world. That’s 1,550 minutes of film screened over one weekend at Sheffield’s art deco Showroom Cinema - the UK’s biggest independent cinema outside London.
To get a taste of what’s in store, check out award-winning adventure film maker Al Lee’s cracking trailer out soon. Meanwhile browse the alphabetical film listings (screenings to be announced soon).
NEW FOR 2012:
- New awards category ‘Best Viral’ to reflect the surging popularity and quality of shorts posted on You Tube and Vimeo.
- New ‘Adventure Bites Loop’ - an hour long repeat screening of the festival’s best shorts.
- Extra ski/board films screening to accommodate the strong field of ski/board entries.
- Extra Young Adventurers showing - afternoon matinee in addition to the Saturday and Sunday morning showings which sold out last year.
- Feature length movies - 3 feature length film screenings including big budget ski hits All.I.Can and The Art of Flight.
- New charity auction on behalf of Community Action Nepal.
Sheffield Adventure Film Festival Director Matt Heason had a record-breaking, broadband-straining 230 plus films to choose from. Traditionally other festivals like Kendal and Banff are held during the winter months, meaning Sheffield’s spring festival has a wider pool of films to choose from. The judges award prizes in categories including Best Film, Best Adventure Film and Best Spirit of Adventure Film.
Matt said: “I’m amazed how the entries get stronger and stronger every year. I reckon I was downloading around 10GB of film a day in the run up to the submission deadline. I’m really excited about this year’s programme. Climbing films are traditionally strong but this year the ski and snowboard films have blown me away. We’re holding two separate screenings as well as showing two feature length ski films. We’ve also created a new virals prize category to reflect the huge increase in popularity of video sharing. And so people can pack even more into their weekend we’ve programmed an hour long ‘Adventure Bites Loop’ of the best shorts that people can slot in between the usual two hour multi-film, themed screenings.”
“And that’s just the films. We’ll soon be ready to announce our programme of talks and lectures on epic climbs, runs and rides by world-class adventurers. And if you can’t wait til March, we’ve got three Running, Biking and Climbing Expert Nights in February.”
“To make it a genuine festival experience we’ll also have stills photography and video shorts competitions with great prizes as well as art and photography exhibitions, the ever-popular second-hand kit sale, a cracking live music line up in the bar and plenty more besides.”
Can’t wait for your adventure film fix? check out the Heason Events Facebook page for a Daily Adventure Dose. Follow us on twitter at @HeasonEvents and @Heason_Lissa #dailyadventuredose #shaff
DOWNLOAD PRESS IMAGES HERE
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- ShAFF is the weekend of 9-11 March 2012 (www.shaff.co.uk) at the art deco Sheffield Showroom cinema - the UK’s biggest independent cinema outside London. (15 Paternoster Row, Sheffield, S1 2BX / tel 0114 275 7727 or book online at www.showroomworkstation.org.uk/)
- Film screenings are mixed in with talks and lectures on epic climbs, runs and rides by world-class adventurers.
- It’s great value - one ticket buys you a multi-film screening so you can see several films in one hit. Passionate about your sport? Then try our specialist selections. Want a high energy hit? Then book our Adrenaline showing. Fancy inspiration and escapism? Try the Adventure Medley.
- For a family friendly weekend try our morning Young Adventurer showings were both sell outs last year so this year we’ll also have afternoon matinees with urban orienteering afterwards.
- Chill out in the bar/cafe between screenings with live music, comfy-seating and free wifi. During the day grab a light lunch and coffee with friends and in the evenings, book dinner made by experienced chefs with fresh, local produce. Why not try the great selection of on tap or bottled beers, wines and ciders - not forgetting the awesome cake cabinet!
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- Getting there’s easy. We’re just across the road from the mainline train station with regular services to the Peak District, Manchester and the UK, there are also local buses, trams and a plenty of nearby car- parks.
- We’re growing in the face of a global recession. Now in its 7th year, for the past six years 100% of the audience said they’d come back again and recommend it to a friend. ShAFF 2011 was our best ever year with a 77% increase in ticket sales, an amazing film programme and a packed series of lectures including the legendary Steve Peat.
