ShAFF 2013 AWARDS ... And The Winner is ...
News Release / 25.02.2013
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.”
