We’re proud to announce the winners of the 8th Sheffield Adventure Film Festival.  We’re releasing the list of winners the week before the festival to give the audience a chance to see for themselves what they make of our judging panel’s choices.  Our Grand Prize goes to ‘North of the Sun’ - a surf film with a twist.

Sheffield Adventure Film Festival Director Matt Heason said:  “This year’s judging was tougher than ever.  We had more films and a higher standard than ever before.  We’ve added a new Best Feature Film award and hope the increase in the number of longer films is a sign that adventure sports film-makers are growing in confidence.  But, the fact that Best Climbing Film is shared between the long and short edits of Wide Boyz is really good illustration of how you can take similar footage and effectively the same story and produce two very different but equally captivating films.”

“A new Best Ski/Board film category recognises the strength of snow films which made up a quarter of total entries.  We’ve also created a new Best Run Film category to reflect the fact that last year’s Grand Prize went to the running film ‘Unbreakable’ and this year ‘The Dragon’s Back’ won three prizes.  Running films are increasing popular with our audience and we want to send a clear signal to encourage more film-makers, like Rich Heap, to focus on one of the Peak District’s most popular sports.  We also awarded a Judges’ Special Prize to celebrate Shaun Palmer - Miserable Champion - a great multi-sport film which didn’t fit into any of our existing categories.”

Co-organiser Lissa Cook said:  “What stood out for me this year was the number of British film-makers and quality of British made films.  That’s reflected in the hat-trick of top prizes for Wide Boyz, The Dragon’s Back and Janapar.  Without being parochial, it’s also great that we’ve got a Sheffield director premiering his film in the city and winning three prizes.  Plus Sheffield school girl Ella Kirkpatrick following in her dad Andy’s footsteps in My Life: The Big Climb and local mountain bike legend Steve Peat making a cameo appearance in a couple of films too.  Personally, I’ve also been pleased by the increasing number of films featuring female athletes.  We’re nowhere near parity but we’re getting there.”

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID:

Trail Running Magazine Editor Claire Maxted said:  “Having been at the Dragon’s Back Race 2012 myself reporting for Trail Running magazine, I can see why the film has scooped three awards at ShaFF. It deftly conveys both the beauty of Welsh mountain scenery and the tough-as-nails attitude of the runners taking part in this extreme 220 mile, five day race last September.  Watching, you feel like you are part of this race, and interviews with both elite and regular racers gives you a unique insight into the hardships they are willing, or not willing, to endure.”

8 times British Climbing Champion Lucy Creamer said:  “Both Wide Boyz edits had different ingredients that set them apart as separate films - it was very difficult to put one above the other.  I loved them both.  Both have fantastic climbing and great interviews with other interesting characters from the world of climbing.  Each has a very different feel and emphasis - the longer one has a much more British underdog feel, while the shorter version has a more American focus.  But at the end of the day you’ve got an incredible story about these two British guys who train really hard in their cellar and go to America and kick butt!”

Adventure and lifestyle photographer Tim Glasby said:  “All.I.Can won Best Short and I absolutely loved it.  It had all the ingredients - a superb edit, a great story, brilliant music and I loved the fact that it one of world’s best free-skiers essentially skiing down a hill and catching a bus ready to go back up and do it all over again.  Shapeshifter won Best Artistic film.  It was also really well made.  I just loved everything about it”.  

Adventure Sports Writer Nik Cook said: “Where the Trail Ends takes mountain bike free-riding to the next level.  It ticks all the boxes of a classic, action-packed mountain bike film but it cinched the top prize because of its strong narrative thread, amazing production values, stunning locations and one of the most sickening crashes I’ve ever seen in a mountain biking film.”

WHAT THE FILM-MAKERS SAID*:

Inge Wegge and Jørn Nyseth Ranum, co-stars and directors of North of the Sun, winner of the ShAFF 2013 Grand Prize, which also won Spirit of Adventure Silver award,  told us:  "It's super fun that North of the Sun is so well liked in extreme sports festivals as ShAFF! And to win two prizes here is fantastic! Thanks to the festival and the judges! Its amazing that the film is traveling around the globe and get so much good feedback! We hope those of you who saw the movie were inspired to follow your own dreams and to take care of the environment!  We would also like to thank everybody who made this film possible - Norrøna, Nordnorsk filmsenter, LAS, TRAFO, Lofoten Sparebank, Storyline studios and Norwegian film institute. "

Paul Diffley, Producer/Director of Best Climbing Film 'Wide Boyz', said:  "I'm thrilled that the film has won an award in the home town of the Wide Boyz. I think it's great to know the some boys from the Peak can burn off the whole of America!"

Iris Rankin from Sender Films, Producers of Wide Boyz (Short Edit) which shared the Gold Prize for Best Climbing Film and of Honnold 3.0 which won Best Climbing Film (Bronze) award said:  "We're very pleased to have won two of the top awards for Best Climbing Film.  It's a humbling experience to be a part of the great feats these athletes accomplish - and to be the force that shares them with festival goers, aspiring dreamers and other climbers in the public."

Producer and star of Best Feature Film ‘Crossing the Ice’ (which also won Silver in Best Film and Bronze in the Best Spirit of Adventure categories), Justin Jones said:  “Cas and I are over the moon to hear that Crossing the Ice has won at ShAFF! We are truly honoured especially knowing the calibre of the other films that we were up against and are truly humbled. We're gutted that we couldn't be there tonight but please have a good time in our stead.  It'd be remiss of us to not thank a few people in particular tonight who've been integral in the whole process. Greg Quail thanks for backing us and helping put together this doco when no one else, Doug Howard who edited the film and did an AMAZING job, our friends and family for supporting this project, the jury here - thank you for this great honour, the general public whom we made this film for and last but not least - Aleks Gamme for reminding us all what the "Spirit of Adventure" is all about.   Thanks again!”  

James Newton and Tom Allen, Director and star of Best Spirit of Adventure Film ‘Janapar - Love on a Bike’ said:  “We are so excited to be at the Sheffield Adventure Film Festival, 'Janapar: Love on a Bike' has been five years in the making and we're really proud of it. Winning the Spirit of Adventure - Gold Award is a terrific result, we still can't quite believe how well our little film is being received.”

Lisa Stolz from Red Bull Media House said "It's a great honor to be recognized by the Shaff Film Festival with the 'Steve Peat Best Mountain Bike Film - Gold Award'.  When Red Bull Media House and Freeride Entertainment set out to create Where The Trail Ends, we wanted to challenge Darren Berrecloth and the rest of these world class riders to step out of their comfort zones.  Shooting in these remote regions also pushed the crew almost as much as the athletes.  What you see on screen represents years of hard work from an extremely talented team working together towards a common goal.  A huge thanks for the tireless effort and creative vision from all the guys at Freeride Entertainment - led by Jeremy Grant (Director), Brad McGregor (Director of Photography), and Derek Westerlund (Executive Producer).  We also had amazing support from our sponsors including Dolby, Specialized, Troy Lee Designs, and Contour.  Hopefully this film sparks a curiosity and sense of adventure in every rider.  Whether you're laying down some fresh tracks, pushing personal limits, or simply dusting off your old bike and getting back out there.  Thank you!"

Rich Heap, Director of The Dragon's Back, winner of Best Run Film, said:  "It's so nice to be recognised in a film festival in which there are so many spectacular, thrilling images.  We're really pleased that a film of a race over where so many factors were out of our control has worked out so well and has so much heart."

Skip Armstrong, Director of Best Artistic film:  Of Souls & Water - Shapeshifter said:  “I'm SUPER STOKED to be a part of your festival! I've heard wonderful things about your town and hope all of you are pleasantly exhausted with sore dancing legs and voices raspy from cheering at the top of your lungs. Without the support of audiences like yourselves independent film would not exist, thank you sincerely. We're honored to be recognized”.

David Lacote from PVS Company, Producers of Best Ski/Board Film 'Pour Vous Servir' said:  "We are really happy about the decision and it's our first prize with this movie!!!
I can't come to the event because we preparing the next movie and we work hard for that!!"

Robin Kitchen, Director of Martyn Ashton's Road Bike Party which won Bronze in the Steve Peat Best Bike Film award said:   "Obviously when entering a competition the aim is to win so we are both gutted - hard for us to imagine there can possibly be a film better than ours....let alone two of the buggers!"
 

William A. Kerig, writer and director of Ready To Fly which won ‘Best Feature Film - Bronze Award’ and ‘Best Ski & Board Film – Silver Award said:  "We are incredibly honored to be recognized at ShAFF among such great films. We hope Ready To Fly and the story of Lindsey Van inspires audience members to never give up on their dreams." 
 

Brad Holmes, from Chainsaw Productions, producers of Shaun Palmer - Miserable Champion (Winner of Judges Special Prize) said:  "We are thrilled about the award and to be a part of this amazing film festival so far away from home. The Judges choice is a huge honor!"

*We'll add more reaction as we get them.

A selection of high resolution images, logos and posters can be downloaded from our press room for one-off editorial use:

ENDS

For more info contact Lissa Cook on 07818 411 791 / 01663 751 126 or [email protected]

AWARDS AT A GLANCE

Best Film (Grand Prize):  North Of The Sun
Two Norwegian friends have a crazy idea about building a beach hut north of the arctic circle and spending the winter living off flotsam and jetsam.  Extreme beach-combing, stunning cinematography and a cabin Bilbo Baggins would be proud to call home.

Best Feature Film:  Crossing The Ice
100 years after Scott and Amundsen’s tragic race to the South Pole, two Australian adventurers James Castrission and Justin Jones (Cas and Jonesy) tackle one of the last great Antarctic odysseys – getting to the pole and back completely unassisted.  But on the way out they discover there’s a Norwegian on the ice – and he’s got a head start.

Best Short Film:  All.I.Can - Imagination
Catching a bus never looked so cool.  Freestyle skier extraordinaire JP Auclair’s continuous downhill urban ski run on dirty slush and concrete is glorious ski porn with a deeper message about the challenges of global climate change.  (See if you can spot his snapped ski tip!)

Best Spirit of Adventure Film:  Janapar - Love On A Bike
(Note - filmmaker James Newton and cyclist Tom Allen both coming to ShAFF to do Q&A)
Isn’t there more to life than this? 23-year-old Tom Allen escapes the rat race to search for the answer by cycling 12,000 miles round the world.  His dream’s thrown into turmoil when he falls in love and has to choose between settling down or continuing his adventure.  Will he choose romance or the road?

Best Climbing Film:  Wide Boyz (both long and short edits - featuring Sheffield climber Tom Randall)
It's like ultimate fighting with a rock.  The world of offwidth crack climbing is a strange sub-culture rumoured to be dominated by knuckle-dragging, bar-brawling dirt-bags! The climbing is tough, painful and bloody and there are hardly any routes in the UK.  Undeterred, two British climbers, Pete Whittaker and Tom Randall, complete a brutal two-year training regime (mostly spent hanging upside down in their Sheffield basement) before embarking on an audacious tour of the USA and a first ascent of the world's hardest off-width - Century Crack.

Best Run Film:  The Dragon’s Back (by Sheffield Producer Rich Heap, Slackjaw, premiering at ShAFF)
One of the world's toughest running events, the original Dragon’s Back Race happened just once in September 1992 and ever since, it has been whispered about with a mix of awe and trepidation. Tracing the mountainous spine of Wales from Conwy Castle to Carreg Cennen Castle this incredible 5-day journey is approximately 320 kilometres long with 17,000 metres.  Follow the exploits of those who dared take on the even tougher 2012 course including all the 3,000 ft Welsh mountains on day one.   (Note: Our Saturday evening premiere will be followed by a Q&A with race organiser Shane Ohly, 2012 winner Steve Birkinshaw, second placed Rob Baker and 1992 winner Helene Whitaker.)

Best Artistic film:  Of Souls & Water - Shapeshifter
The supernatural… does it exist? The curious explore unbound by restrictions of place and mind, and perhaps discover things we haven’t understood. Whitewater kayaking legend Ben Marr shreds the upper reaches of Quebec, pushing limits to new and undiscovered levels.

Steve Peat Best Bike Film:  Where The Trail Ends
Their most ambitious mountain-biking yet - freeriders Darren Berrecloth, Cameron Zink, Kurtis Sorge, James Doerfling and Andreu Lacondeguy and co are on a three year mission to discover unridden terrain.  Filmed in Argentina, China, Nepal, British Columbia and Utah, the crew used the most advanced filmmaking and sound equipment ever used in the outdoor adventure sport genre with jet boats, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft providing a variety of unique perspectives for the audience.

Best Ski & Board Film (Gold):  Pour Vous Servir (PVS)
Not your average ski/board movie.  "Pour Vous Servir" (translation - 'At Your Service') takes the spirit of freestyle and goes lateral, then does a 360.  Only the French could come up with Fight Club for ski bums and a naked drag race.

Judges’ Special Prize:  Shaun Palmer - Miserable Champion (features Steve Peat, Sheffield mountain bike legend)
7 times world champion, 6 XGames Golds, 38 elite victories and 117 career podiums in SEVEN different sports. A shocking portrait of Shaun Palmer, the notorious bad boy of extreme sports who's partied as hard as he's trained.  Featuring Sheffield mountain bike legend Steve Peat.

AWARDS IN DETAIL

BEST FILM

Best Film (Grand Prize) - North Of The Sun
Two Norwegian friends have a crazy idea about building a beach hut north of the arctic circle and spending the winter living off flotsam and jetsam.  Extreme beach-combing, stunning cinematography and a cabin Bilbo Baggins would be proud to call home.

Duration: 46 mins
Nationality: Norwegian
Year:  2012
Directed By: Jørn Nyseth Ranum & Inge Wegge
Produced By: Filmhuset Produksjoner AS, Anne Bergseng
Website: nordiskpanorama.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nordforsola


Best Film (Silver):  Crossing The Ice
100 years after Scott and Amundsen’s tragic race to the South Pole, two Australian adventurers James Castrission and Justin Jones (Cas and Jonesy) tackle one of the last great Antarctic odysseys – getting to the pole and back completely unassisted.  But on the way out they discover there’s a Norwegian on the ice – and he’s got a head start.

Duration: 62 mins
Nationality: Australian
Year:  2012
Directed By: Justin Jones
Produced By: Greg Quail and Justin Jones


Best Film (Bronze) The Dragon’s Back (by Sheffield Producer Rich Heap, Slackjaw, premiering at ShAFF)
One of the world's toughest running events, the original Dragon’s Back Race happened just once in September 1992 and ever since, it has been whispered about with a mix of awe and trepidation. Tracing the mountainous spine of Wales from Conwy Castle to Carreg Cennen Castle this incredible 5-day journey is approximately 320 kilometres long with 17,000 metres.  Follow the exploits of those who dared take on the even tougher 2012 course including all the 3,000 ft Welsh mountains on day one.   (Note: Our Saturday evening premiere will be followed by a Q&A with race organiser Shane Ohly, 2012 winner Steve Birkinshaw, second placed Rob Baker and 1992 winner Helene Whitaker.)

Duration: 55 mins
Nationality: British (Sheffield!)
Year:  2013
Directed By: Rich Heap (Slackjaw)

BEST CLIMBING FILM

Best Climbing Film (Gold):  Wide Boyz (both long and short edits - featuring Sheffield climber Tom Randall)
It's like ultimate fighting with a rock.  The world of offwidth crack climbing is a strange sub-culture rumoured to be dominated by knuckle-dragging, bar-brawling dirt-bags! The climbing is tough, painful and bloody and there are hardly any routes in the UK.  Undeterred, two British climbers, Pete Whittaker and Tom Randall, complete a brutal two-year training regime (mostly spent hanging upside down in their Sheffield basement) before embarking on an audacious tour of the USA and a first ascent of the world's hardest off-width - Century Crack.
 
Long edit, HotAches
http://www.shaff.co.uk/whats-on/films-a-to-z-list/wideboyz/
Duration: 48 mins
Nationality: British
Year:  2012
Directed By: Paul Diffley & Chris Alstrin
Produced by Hotaches Productions


Short edit, ReelRock
http://www.shaff.co.uk/whats-on/films-a-to-z-list/wideboyz-short-edit/
Duration: 13 mins
Nationality: American
Year:  2012
From the feature film directed and produced by Paul Diffley & Chris Alstrin; Josh Lowell, Peter Mortimer, Nick Rosen
Director/Producer:  Josh Lowell, Peter Mortimer, Nick Rosen (Sender Films / BigUp Productions)
 

Best Climbing Film (Silver): My Life: The Big Climb (featuring 13 year old Sheffield school girl Ella & her father - and ShAFF patron - Andy Kirkpatrick climbing 1000m El Capitan in Yosemite)
13 year old Ella becomes the youngest ever girl to summit the big wall of Yosemite's El Capitan with her "smelly, snoring" dad, Sheffield climber Andy Kirkpatrick, in tow.  Imagine doing 1,000 pull-ups a day for four days without enough food or sleep.
Duration: 28 mins
Nationality: British
Year:  2012
Director: Des Henderson (AlleyCat Films)

Best Climbing Film (Bronze): Honnold 3.0
When Alex Honnold made the first free solo of the 2,000ft Half Dome with no rope he became an overnight sensation.  Off the rock Alex is shy and self-effacing.  A fascinating portrait of how one of the world's most naturally talented climbers deals with the pressure of becoming a public commodity and the weight of expectation of constantly pushing the boundaries.

Duration: 33 mins
Nationality: American
Year:  2012
Directed By: Peter Mortimer, Josh Lowell
Produced By: Peter Mortimer, Josh Lowell, Nick Rosen, Alex Lowther (Sender Films, ReelRock Tour)

BEST FEATURE FILM

Best Feature Film (Gold):  Crossing The Ice
100 years after Scott and Amundsen’s tragic race to the South Pole, two Australian adventurers James Castrission and Justin Jones (Cas and Jonesy) tackle one of the last great Antarctic odysseys – getting to the pole and back completely unassisted.  But on the way out they discover there’s a Norwegian on the ice – and he’s got a head start.

Duration: 62 mins
Nationality: Australian
Year:  2012
Directed By: Justin Jones
Produced By: Greg Quail and Justin Jones


Best Feature Film (Silver) The Dragon’s Back (by Sheffield Producer Rich Heap, Slackjaw, premiering at ShAFF)
One of the world's toughest running events, the original Dragon’s Back Race happened just once in September 1992 and ever since, it has been whispered about with a mix of awe and trepidation. Tracing the mountainous spine of Wales from Conwy Castle to Carreg Cennen Castle this incredible 5-day journey is approximately 320 kilometres long with 17,000 metres.  Follow the exploits of those who dared take on the even tougher 2012 course including all the 3,000 ft Welsh mountains on day one.   (Note: Our Saturday evening premiere will be followed by a Q&A with race organiser Shane Ohly, 2012 winner Steve Birkinshaw, second placed Rob Baker and 1992 winner Helene Whitaker.)

Duration: 55 mins
Nationality: British (Sheffield!)
Year:  2013
Directed By: Rich Heap
Website: Slackjaw

Best Feature Film (Bronze): Ready To Fly
"It's like my future in the hands of a bunch of old dudes!"  In 2009 American ski jumper Lindsay Van made the longest ever jump at Whistler beating both the men's and women's records.  Follow the emotional roller coaster battle with the IOC for women's ski-jumping to become an Olympic Sport.

Duration: 75 mins
Nationality: American
Year:  2012
Director: William A. Kerig
Producer: Scott A. Zeller

BEST SHORT FILM

Best Short Film (Gold): All I Can - Imagination
Catching a bus never looked so cool.  Freestyle skier extraordinaire JP Auclair’s continuous downhill urban ski run on dirty slush and concrete is glorious ski porn with a deeper message about the challenges of global climate change.  (See if you can spot his snapped ski tip!)

Duration: 5 mins
Nationality: Canadian
Year:  2011
Directed By: Dave Mossop and JP Auclair (Sherpas Cinema)
Produced By: Malcolm Sangster

Best Short Film (Silver) Kilian Martin - Altered Route
One of the most creative riders on the scene, Spanish skateboarder Kilian Martin explores an abandoned family fun park in the Mojave Desert.  Brought to life by film-maker Brett Novak with archive Super8 footage of happier times gone by and an atmospheric soundtrack, Martin's dance-like technique and astonishing board control make this short a real work of art.

Duration: 4 mins
Year:  2012
Directed By: Brett Novak

Best Short Film (Bronze) Road Bike Party
UK trials bike legend Martyn Ashton takes the £10k carbon road bike, used by Team Sky's Bradley Wiggins to win the Tour de France, for a ride with a difference.  Some of the toughest stunts you'll ever see pulled on a carbon road bike and amazingly only one puncture during filming.

Duration: 5 mins
Nationality: British
Year:  2012
Website: ashtonbikes.com

Steve Peat Best Bike Film

Steve Peat Best Bike Film (Gold): Where The Trail Ends
Their most ambitious mountain-biking yet - freeriders Darren Berrecloth, Cameron Zink, Kurtis Sorge, James Doerfling and Andreu Lacondeguy and co are on a three year mission to discover unridden terrain.  Filmed in Argentina, China, Nepal, British Columbia and Utah, the crew used the most advanced filmmaking and sound equipment ever used in the outdoor adventure sport genre with jet boats, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft providing a variety of unique perspectives for the audience.

Duration: 81 mins
Nationality: American
Produced By: Red Bull Media House and Freeride Entertainment
Year:  2012
Trailer: http://www.redbullusa.com/cs/Satellite/en_US/Video/Where-The-Trail-Ends--Official-Trailer-021243240729084

Steve Peat Best Bike Film (Silver) - Strength In Numbers (features Steve Peat, Sheffield mountain bike legend)
In the follow-up to their hit 'Follow Me' Anthill Films' stated mission was to “explore the shared experiences that connect us all as mountain bikers".  From the pros on the World Cup Circuit to kids on dirt jumps to the novice mountain bikers of Nepal, the film celebrates that taste of freedom you got the first time you rode your bike without stabilisers.  Featuring British athletes Gee and Rachel Atherton, Tracy Mosely and Sheffield's finest, Steve Peat.

Duration: 53 mins
Nationality: Canadian
Year:  2012
Directed By: Darcy Wittenburg
Produced By: Red Bull Media House and Anthill Films


Steve Peat Best Bike Film (Bronze) - Lacon De Catalunya
Spanish free rider Andreu Lacondeguy hones his skills on his 13 metre high run in at his training compound near Barcelona. As the Norwegian film-makers Antimedia put it: "We had a blast with a week of dirt, cameras, drones, motocross and mountain bikes".

Duration: 5
Nationality: Norwegian (Antimedia)
Year:  2012

Best Spirit Of Adventure Film

Best Spirit of Adventure Film (Gold) - Janapar - Love On A Bike
(Note - filmmaker James Newton and cyclist Tom Allen both coming to ShAFF to do Q&A)
Isn’t there more to life than this? 23-year-old Tom Allen escapes the rat race to search for the answer by cycling 12,000 miles round the world.  His dream’s thrown into turmoil when he falls in love and has to choose between settling down or continuing his adventure.  Will he choose romance or the road?

Duration: 79 mins
Nationality: British
Year:  2012
Producer / Director: James Newton


Best Spirit of Adventure Film (Silver) North Of The Sun
Two Norwegian friends have a crazy idea about building a beach hut north of the arctic circle and spending the winter living off flotsam and jetsam.  Extreme beach-combing, stunning cinematography and a cabin Bilbo Baggins would be proud to call home.

Duration: 46 mins
Nationality: Norwegian
Year:  2012
Directed By: Jørn Nyseth Ranum & Inge Wegge
Produced By: Filmhuset Produksjoner AS, Anne Bergseng
Website: nordiskpanorama.com

Best Spirit of Adventure Film (Bronze) Crossing The Ice
100 years after Scott and Amundsen’s tragic race to the South Pole, two Australian adventurers James Castrission and Justin Jones (Cas and Jonesy) tackle one of the last great Antarctic odysseys – getting to the pole and back completely unassisted.  But on the way out they discover there’s a Norwegian on the ice – and he’s got a head start.

Duration: 62 mins
Nationality: Australian
Year:  2012
Directed By: Justin Jones
Produced By: Greg Quail and Justin Jones

BEST SKI & BOARD FILM

Best Ski & Board Film (Gold): Pour Vous Servir (PVS)
Not your average ski/board movie.  "Pour Vous Servir" (translation - 'At Your Service') takes the spirit of freestyle and goes lateral, then does a 360.  Only the French could come up with Fight Club for ski bums and a naked drag race.
 
Duration: 47 mins
Nationality: French
Year:  2012
Directed/Producer by: PVS Company


Best Ski & Board Film (Silver): Ready To Fly
"It's like my future in the hands of a bunch of old dudes!"  In 2009 American ski jumper Lindsay Van made the longest ever jump at Whistler beating both the men's and women's records.  Follow the emotional roller coaster battle with the IOC for women's ski-jumping to become an Olympic Sport.

Duration: 75 mins
Nationality: American
Year:  2012
Director: William A. Kerig
Producer: Scott A. Zeller

Best Ski & Board Film (Bronze): On the Road - 2 Years 5 Winters
Ever thought about ditching the office job to live the creative dream of making adventure sports films?  Think again.  The guys from Sweetgrass Productions give us a little flavour of what it was really like making 'Solitaire' (Winner of the 2012 ShAFF Artistic Film award).  This final chapter on the Clockwork Orange-like torture of the edit and the sweet agony of letting go for release to the public is exquisite.

Duration: 10 mins
Nationality: American
Year:  2012
Produced by: Sweetgrass Productions

BEST ARTISTIC FILM

Best Artistic film (Gold): Of Souls & Water - Shapeshifter
The supernatural… does it exist? The curious explore unbound by restrictions of place and mind, and perhaps discover things we haven’t understood. Whitewater kayaking legend Ben Marr shreds the upper reaches of Quebec, pushing limits to new and undiscovered levels.

Duration: 6 mins
Nationality: American
Year:  2012
Directed By: Skip Armstrong
Produced By: Anson Fogel/Forge Motion Pictures

Best Artistic film (Silver): Unicorn Sashimi
Felt Soul Media are best known for their beautiful films about fishing.  Last winter they saved up, bought their dream camera and teamed up with Sweetgrass Productions go hunt the mythical Hokkaido unicorn.  The creature proved elusive so they went skiing and instead captured the magic of the Japanese snow surfers.

Duration: 5 mins
Nationality: American
Year:  2011
Directed By: Ben Knight, Nick Waggoner and Travis Rummel
Produced By: Nick Waggoner and Yuki Miyazaki (Felt Soul Media)

Best Artistic film (Bronze): Ski Boys
Presented as found footage, the 'Ski Boys' film reels show 'Deek' and his friends on their family farms in the summer of 1971 documenting their everyday adventures on Super 8 Film.  Their homemade inventions - including 8ft toboggans fitted with roller-skate wheels, a flying squirrel suit and the 'road' ski - epitomise the 'Why Don't You Just Switch Off Your Television Set and Go and Do Something Less Boring Instead?' spirit.

Duration: 8 mins
Nationality: American
Year: 2006
Directors:  Benny & Christian Zenga (Zenga Bros)

BEST RUN FILM

Best Run Film (Gold): The Dragon’s Back (by Sheffield Producer Rich Heap, Slackjaw, premiering at ShAFF)
One of the world's toughest running events, the original Dragon’s Back Race happened just once in September 1992 and ever since, it has been whispered about with a mix of awe and trepidation. Tracing the mountainous spine of Wales from Conwy Castle to Carreg Cennen Castle this incredible 5-day journey is approximately 320 kilometres long with 17,000 metres.  Follow the exploits of those who dared take on the even tougher 2012 course including all the 3,000 ft Welsh mountains on day one.   (Note: Our Saturday evening premiere will be followed by a Q&A with race organiser Shane Ohly, 2012 winner Steve Burkinshaw, second placed Rob Baker and 1992 winner Helene Whitaker.)

Duration: 55 mins
Nationality: British (Sheffield!)
Year:  2013
Directed By: Rich Heap
Website: Slackjaw

Best Run Film (Silver): Collective Dreams
How do you shape the highly individual discipline of endurance running into a team sport?  Collective Dreams charts the growth of ultra-distance trail racing through the eyes of Team Saloman, showing how the older, more experienced athletes like Kilian Jornet and Anna Frost inspire the younger runners.  Great to see an adventure film featuring so many talented female athletes.

Duration: 26 mins
Nationality: South African
Year:  2012
Directed By: Dean Leslie
Produced By: Greg Fell (The African Attachment)

Best Run Film (Bronze): Red Bull 400
A 400m race up a ski jump with 180m of vertical gain on an average gradient of 45%.  Michael Johnson's 400m world record time is 43.18 seconds.  Pro Turk mountain racer Ahmet Arslan took five minutes and two seconds crawling on all fours to win the Red Bull 400.

Duration: 4 mins
Year: 2012
Website: redbullcontentpool.com

JUDGES SPECIAL PRIZE

Shaun Palmer - Miserable Champion (features Steve Peat, Sheffield mountain bike legend)
7 times world champion, 6 XGames Golds, 38 elite victories and 117 career podiums in SEVEN different sports. A shocking portrait of Shaun Palmer, the notorious bad boy of extreme sports who's partied as hard as he's trained.  Featuring Sheffield mountain bike legend Steve Peat.

Duration: 42 mins
Nationality: American
Producer: Chainsaw Productions