Report 2002
2002 Film Results
Highlights - too
many to mention.
- Kurt
Diembergers amazing "Summits
and Secrets"
- David Breashears presenting
his IMAX film Kilimanjaro to an audience including Dr Kim Howells,
Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting
- Great
lectures from all the speakers but the visitors from the States
stole the show - Tim
O'Niell with his outrageous humour and Lynn Hill for her fantastic
life story.
- Remarkable
films not to miss in particular the prize winners "Cannibals and Crampons", "Unizaba" and "Second Step".
In Detail
Kendal Mountain Film Festival
2002 celebrated the International Year of the Mountains as part of
the Cumbrian Mountain Festival 2002 with a superb nine day programme
- 50+ films, 18 top lectures, the UK premiere of the IMAX film Kilimanjaro,
photographic and art exhibitions, and much more.
This year an audience of more than 5000 enjoyed "stunning entertainment" from
the largest and most comprehensive programme yet. Thanks again
to the support of Berghaus and all our other sponsors,
Kendal was a great place to meet friends and experience the best
in mountain culture and adventure.
The Festival started on Saturday 9th November at RHEGED, Penrith with a sell
out lecture by Kurt Diemberger who returned to the UK after
many years to give a humorous and moving lecture "Summit and Secrets" which
includes clips of his remarkable films, including the first shot on the summit
of Everest. In his own words, "I am the only person to have made first ascents
of two 8000 metre peaks and the only one who has filmed all the 8000 metre
peaks!" Due to the sell out Kurt agreed to lecture again on Sunday.
On Sunday the 10th November Eric Robson, who is probably best
known as Chair of the Gardener's Question Time Panel, this was a chance to
see Eric's own choice of films on Lakeland and the people that make Cumbria
unique. "An Audience with Eric Robson" was also be a chance for the audience
to address their questions to Eric about Cumbria's Landscape post Foot & Mouth,
its future and its significance to the nation.
Popular demand last year made it impossible for everyone to see Everest and Shackleton in Large
Format (IMAX). To these, we add UK premieres of David Breashears' new
film Kilimanjaro and Alaska in a weeklong
evening programme. The ticket includes a visit to the National Mountaineering
Museum. David Breshears came over specially to present his
film on Wednesday the 13th. Also joined by Dr Kim Howells.
David Breashears and Dr Kim Howells
On Thursday 14th
November at RHEGED was a new programme - the Filming the
Extreme with David Breashears, Richard
Else, Brian Hall, Keith Partridge.
An audience of film makers, students, press and others with wide
interests spent a very informative and entertaining day with the
making-of Everest & Kilimanjaro, logistics and safety of film
crews, modern lightweight approach to mountain filming, what cameras
and sound kit are best in the mountains, formats etc.
On Thursday evening
in the BREWERY Kendal was another new programme for 2002. A capacity
audience watched the Ski Evening introduced Bill
O'Connor. This was an extravaganza of exciting Extreme Ski
and Snow Board films, the best from a round the world, plus an illustrated
talk on Canadian back country skiing by Chic Scott.
50 Years of Welsh Rock celebrated the 50th anniversary of
the first ascent of Cenotaph Corner. DMM did a great job organizing this four-part
evening lecture programme presented by Ray Wood with Ken
Wilson, John Redhead, Mark Katz and Leo
Houlding reviewing the last half century with unique slides and great
stories. It was also a rare chance to see footage from the great film- "The
Climbers", Unfortunately Redhead's presentation was not received well by the
audience with comments like "a boring, irrelevant and pornographic load of
rubbish". Luckily it was the only poor performance of the whole weekend and
the Festival directors wish to apologise unreservedly to all those who were
offended.
Leo Holding
Saturday morning
at the Leisure Centre features two greats of contemporary Himalayan
climbing. First the Slovenian legend Tomaz Humar showed
film and slides illustrating why he is one of the most thoughtful
and inspirational climbers of the new generation and his remarkable
Himalayan ascents such as the solo first ascent of the South Face
of Dhaulagiri, place him at the very top of the alpine style league
table. Followed by Alan Hinkes who gave an insight
into what it takes to succeed in the "death zone" and why the hell
does anyone want to go through such extremes. Alan has just climbed
Annapurna and is back on course to be the first Brit to top all the
8000ers. He has two to go but he is not taking them for granted.
Tomaz Humar
The afternoon
was more rock orientated with John Dunne (in a lecture
sponsored by Mountain Equipment) talking about his career at the
top in sport climbing, bouldering, dangerous grit onsights and headpoints.
He then put forward a convincing case as to why "the end" of British
rock climbing may be nigh and complained that many of the younger
climbing talent are under performing. John also said he is running
out of objectives and inspiration and like more and more people he
has to travel abroad to get his climbing "fix". At the end he gave
a glimmer of optimism by revealing his top 10 routes still to climb
for all those who can climb E10 and above!
John Dunne
He may have been
a name new to the audience, but American Tim O'Neill was
one of the highlights of the Festival. Starting with his wacky film "Urban
Ape" his high tech show gave Tim a platform as a stand-up comedian,
speed climbing star (3hr:24min ascent of the Nose) and the future
of hard alpinism (new route on Fitzroy). Unbelievable!
Tim O'Neill
The largest audience
of the Festival watched Lynn Hill's show. She is
one of the world's finest rock climbers and this special lecture
celebrated the publishing of her autobiography. Lynn reflected on
her life and times, from early successes in America to the frenetic
crags of Europe. It was also a chance to see the film on her record
breaking free, one-day ascent of the Nose. We thank again Outside
Shop of Hathersage for the chance to bring Lynn over to these shores.
Lynn Hill
Over at the Brewery
on Saturday evening Cameron McNeish showed why he
has the reputation as one of the best storytellers in the outdoor
world. He enchanted the audience with reflections on the life and
philosophy of John Muir, illustrated with his own stunning shots
of a journey along the crest of the John Muir trail in the California
Sierra.
When Stephen Venables reached the summit of Everest by a new
route without oxygen it was a defining moment in his life. He is regarded as
one of our finest all time mountaineers and notable speakers and on Sunday
morning he presented his views on the world of climbing and the future of mountaineering
in a lecture specially made for International Year of the Mountain.
In the afternoon, in what has become a regular feature and one of the highlights
of the Festival, the Mount Everest Foundation and British Mountaineering Council
jointly presented a four lecture series. This was from the current generation
of extreme climbers describing recent adventures on expeditions supported by
the BMC and MEF. It featured Ian Parnell on the Denali Diamond, Mick
Fowler climbing an amazing ice line on Siguniang, China and Alun
Hubbard exploring the Antarctic Peninsular. To close, the inspirational
South African Ed February talked about Africa and the politics
of climbing.
FILMS AND MORE FILMS!
From Friday at 7.00 pm to Sunday 10.30 pm the film programme was running and
what a programme it was! Almost 200 films were entered this year and the pre
selection to reduce this to the 50 films to be presented to the audience and
judges was an almost impossible job.
The panel of judges from the film and climbing world, Andy Cave, Richard
Else, Julie Summers, Lindsey Cannon and Graham
Hoyland did a thankless task watching films all weekend but chose
a great selection of winners (see the list on the web). All their decisions
were unanimous
.
Probably
the film of the Festival was "Cannibals and Crampons" and it was
fitting that it picked up both the Grand Prize (presented by Berghaus)
and Peoples Choice (voted for by an audience poll and sponsored
by Gore Tex). It would be unfair to single out other films but
look at the judges choice and that will give a good indication
of a good film to watch with a great story and well made.
Second Step recieves Best Mountain Film Prize
The Prize
Ceremony - Britain's Mountaineering Oscars was a fitting
finale to the Festival. Compared by Lindsey Cannon she entertained
and presented the winning films with extracts with critical comments
from the judges and prizes from the sponsors. The atmosphere was
greatly improved this year by number of the winning film makers
being present, including several from overseas. Andy Parkin sculpted
a beautiful and unique set of trophies. All the winning films were
then screened again on Sunday evening.
Artist Andy Parkin with the trophies
Art and Photograpy
The Warehouse
Gallery of the Brewery housed the paintings of Jim Curran which
received much critical acclaim and many of the large Karakorum series
were purchased. Andy Parkin also exhibited his art and sculptures
and again made the film prizes. Jim's exhibition was sponsored by
MSR.
Jim Currans paintings in the Art Gallery
The Brewery Sugar
Gallery hosted the photographic work of Dave "Cubby" Cuthbertson,
Simon Nadin, Dave Birkett and Mike Robertson.
A rogues gallery of climbers past and present by Ian Smith was equally
as popular. The photography at the gallery were sponsored by Platypus.
Photographers Nadin, Robertson, Cuthbertson & Birkett
Seminars
on Film Making by Brian Hall on Saturday lunchtime previewed the
making of the forthcoming film "Touching the Void. The Sunday lunchtime
photography seminar analysed the photographs featured in the Sugar
Gallery
A5 British
Bouldering Competition took place at the Lakeland Climbing
Centre - Kendal Wall on Sunday 17th November. Although not part
of the Festival it is a welcome distraction from the main events.
The top 3 in each category were:
Female
1 Lucinda Hughes
2 Abigail May
3 Rachel Seymour
Male
1 Gareth Parry
2 Malcolm Smith
3 Mark Croxall
2002 Film Results
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