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Films in the 2005 competition

A Wartime of Stone (P5)
UK 16mins
Directed and Produced by Peter Murray

The film turns the usual formula of a rock climbing road trip inside out and sets a sequence of climbing shots into the context of anti-war protests and demonstrations against the G8 summit at Gleneagles.

Amazonia Vertical (P5)
Slovakia 63 mins
Directed by Pavol Barabáš

Another classic adventure from Barabáš, this time from the “Lost Worlds” of deepest Amazonia where hundreds of unclimbed walls and unexplored river valleys await.

Being Caribou (P5)
Canada 72 mins

In North America, debate is raging about plans to open up wilderness land on the North Slope of Alaska to drill for oil. Huge herds of Caribou migrate each year between the homelands of the native people in Canada to northern Alaska. The loss of the Caribou would destroy a way of life. This remarkable film follows a young Canadian couple on their three month journey with the Caribou.

By a Thread (P9)
Spain 9mins
Directed and Produced by Juan Carlos Romera

Perhaps the only way to truly feel you are alive is to put your life at risk - but be careful, when hanging by a thread you can never be sure if it is just an illusion.

Cave Woman (P3)
UK 14mins
Produced and Directed by Dave Brown and Paul Diffly

Scottish climber Fiona Murray has taken a career break to spend a season ice climbing in the Canadian Rockies. Fiona trains hard and among other climbs, climbs Cave man, and in the process takes a humorous look at this man dominated sport. turning the tables

Ciao Martina (P3)
Italy
Directed and Produced by Dariusz Zaluski

Simone Moro attempts the NW Face of Shisapangma in winter but in his mind he constantly revisits his family and especially his little girl Martina – how can he explain what he is doing to her, to himself?

Crampons and Tampons (P7)
UK 13 mins
Directed and Produced by Louise Alexander

Fly on the wall documentary of six girls on an ice-climbing holiday to La Garve. Some are skilled climbers, others have never seen snow. There are some rare moments, and as the film maker says its “pretty much all the stuff we never want guys to see. Ever!

Crossing the Lines (P4)
Austria 30mins
Directed & Produced by Armin Buchroithner, Christoph Hoerner & Stephan Ribitsch

Impressive road movie with lots of action and good music as a team of climbers and extreme sportsmen cross the lines between many different sports as the tour the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Depth Charge (P2)
UK 58mins
Directed and Produced by Mike Weeks

A team of top international climbers including Chris Sharma and Leo Houlding head for Kornati, a little known island off the Dalmatian coast of Croatia where they take deep water soloing to its limits with 50 new routes from 6a to 8b+.

Drilling (P5)
USA 25mins
Directed and Produced by Ryan Vachon

One way to gain perspective on modern and future climate change is to look into the past. By drilling to the bed rock on two Andean glaciers, rather than from the Artic or Antartic, a more global view can be gained. The film follows a team a scientists through the tribulations and logistic of this difficult research.

Falling (P2)
USA 5mins
Directed and Produced by John Armstrong

Beautifully filmed and conceived, a kayaking film with class.

Flying Over Everest (P6)
Italy 60mins
Directed by Fabio Toncelli Produced by Robert Dall’Angello

The film follows the attempt by Angelo D’Arrigo to fly a hand glider over Everest, being pulled to that height by a micro-light and accompanied by two eagles. This is a fascinating story in which nothing quite works as planned complete with a gripping conclusion that no one could have scripted.

Garden of the Gods (P8)
Austria 52 mins
Directed and Produced by Michael Schlamberger

Mount Olympus is the mythical home of the ancient Greek Gods. Today, its towering heights and rapid changes in environment still make it a place of awe and surprisingly one not often visited by climbers and walkers outside Greece.

Going to Extremes – Silk Route Nepal (P7) UK 50mins
Directed by Will Anderson Produced by Keo Films
A direct and unassuming travelogue which takes Oxford university professor Nick Middleton to remote Nepali villages where he takes on a number of local challenges, trying to learn how the local people live. For the most part, he also overcomes his fear of heights – essential in the world’s steepest country.

Grandpa (P2)
Poland 26mins
Directed by Miroslaw Dembinski Produced by Film Studio Everest

Although 79 year old, Janusz is still full of energy and a passion for paragliding. His dress and equipment may be of a generation (or two) back, but he overcomes all of these limitations, and occasionally with help from young friends, still takes to the air.

Heartbeats of Denali (P6)
Canada 18mins
Directed and Produced by Patrick McClosky

A visual poem, which immerses us in the spectacular landscape and wildlife in the Denali National Park of Alaska. With an original soundtrack which integrates natural sound and images

Heavy Fork (P7)
Canada 3mins
Directed and produced by Steve Crowe

An enthusiastic 12 year olds attempts to create his own mountain bike style with bruising results.

High Ambition in the Himalaya (P6)
USA 58mins
Directed and Produced by Curt Gowdy

An honest and engaging look at the motivation that bring people into extreme conditions to attempt the world’s highest mountains. A team of six climbers – including one survivor of the Into Thin Air tragedy on Everest – attempts Cho Oyu, sometimes impassioned, sometimes humbled but always thinking beyond the experience to the lessons that might be leaned, even if soon forgotten.

High Art (P7)
UK 10mins
Directed and Produced by David Jinks

Shelley Hockney is an artist who uses her in-depth knowledge of climbing to commit to canvas what she sees and feels. This short film from Fontainbleau captures her work on location and explores her inspiration.

High Fly Summits (P3)
France 13 mins
Directed by Dominique Janiszewski Produced by Ride the Planets

A team of parapenters seek out some the most challenging and problematical summits to jump over, playing in the air, on the snow slopes and in wingsuits.

Hot Aches (P7)
UK 25min
Directed and produced by Kevin Neal

A journey with a group of Scottish climbers in search of perfect winter conditions from the Cairngorms to the far North West from a first time film maker “one camera, one filmer!”

Hot Rock (P9)
Australia 23 mins
Directed and Produced by Melissa Nesbitt

A pacey and visually entertaining piece which follows a group of rock climbers on an 18 month journey through Europe, down the length of the Nile and East Africa to the Cape of Good Hope then along the spine of the Andes in search of Hot Rock.

Hypoxia 2 (P8)
Irish 30mins
Directed and Produced by Rob Coffey and Nick Doran

A white water road movie but in some unusual places such as the Baktiari River which is the border between Iraq/Iran and down the Northern Gorge on the Blue Nile of Ethiopia.

Kilimanjaro (P3)
UK 50mins
Directed By Richard Heap & Ben Bevan-Prichard - Produced by Slackjaw Film Ltd in association with West Coast Capital & Yorkshire Screen. Associate producer Hugo Heppell, co-producer Eve Wood

A group of climbers, all of whom have suffered severely as a result of climbing accidents, get together to ascend Kilimanjaro. This inspirational film follows the climbers, Paul Pritchard and Jamie Andrews among them, as they share their passion for the mountains and the determination to make the most of every opportunity.

Ian Wright’s Excellent Adventure (P3)
UK 46mins
Directed by Richard Harrison Produced by Madeline Knight

Ian Wright and his best friend get well beyond their comfort zones while climbing Greenland’s highest peak. She proves stronger at times, but in the end, they succeed in large part through good and patient guiding and supportive film team. We all know Ian Wright as an intelligent commentator - get beyond the language and the film asks some interesting questions about why people (even super stars) do such things.

In Sight of Light (P9)
Spain/UK 7mins
Directed by Anthony Rohald Produced by Ian Ellis Chandler

This short film uses the poetry of caver Ellis Chandler to build a relationship between cave and caver, and the motivation that take us into the dark

Lotus Flower (P3)
France 15mins
Directed and Produced by Guillaume Broust

A visit to the Cirque of the Unconquerables to follow a small team on an ascent of this beautiful tower.

Maladh Da Bheinn (P4)
Scottish 30mins
Directed by Douglas Campbell Produced by Douglas Eadie

This film explores how attitudes have changed in the Scottish hills over the past two hundred years and celebrates the highlands through the eyes of two Gaelic poets – Duncan Ban (1724 1812) and Donald William Steward, who narrates the film.

Mountain Graffiti (P6)
Italy 2 mins
Directed and Produced by Andrea Salva

An animated short tracing man’s arrival in the 21st century direct from the stone age.

Nyima and the Porters (P2)
France 55 mins (P2)
Directed Philippe Lespinasse Produced by Via Decouverts

Nyima is a Nepali porter. At 16 she runs her own business, carrying up to 50 kilos, she supplies shops and cafes for trekkers and climbers enroute to Everest trek . This is a tribute to the enterprising, cheerful and hardy people who embody the soul of the region.

Our Himalaya (P6)
Spain 40mins
Directed by Alberto Inurrategi Produced by Diapolan

A film from the grand prize winner in 2004 “Your Himalaya. In this film, using many of the techniques of last year’s winner, Inurrategi goes deeper into the world of art and imagination to question the whole process and concept of Himalayan “conquest.”

Ozone (P5)
France 15mins
Directed and Produced by Guillame Broust

A beautiful short film which gives us a break from routine life flying around the world with the Ozone team – the film asks, why not? It beats going to the dentist.

Part Animal, Part Machine (P3)
Canada 20mins
Directed and Produced by Will Gadd

Warren McDonald, who some may remember from Kendal 2002 for his film about the recovery from loosing both legs, takes up ice climbing in the Rockies with a few friends. Inspirational and amusing.

Paving Shangi La (P4)
Bermuda 30mins
Directed and Produced by Andrew Stevenson

The Annapurna Himal are home to 120,000 subsistence farmers. The absence of roads has helped preserve this culturally rich mountain area and also made it one of the most popular destinations for trekkers. However, a new road to China threatens to change the area forever, and the Maoists are winning some local hearts and minds.

Practical Norwegian (P8)
UK 5mins
Directed and Pr0duced by Andrew Bullas

A short sketch in which ski pioneer Sondre Norheim discovers how to create skis in the harsh climate of his family bedroom.

Red Alert (P4)
Switzerland 10mins
Directed and Produced by Dominique Perret

Filmed in the Alps last year, this is the latest of Dominque Perret’s ski spectaculars, but Red Alert is also a warning about the change in mountain climates.

Return2Sender (P7)
USA 60mins
Directed and Produced by Peter Mortimer

The wacky world of Peter Mortimer and friends returns with this mega compilation of short films complete with climbing Jack Russells, cartoons from Timmy O’Neil and loads of spectacular climbing footage, highlining and adventure expeditions from across the globe.

Siachen (P4)
Italian 72 mins
Directed and Produced by Fulvio Mariani

A bold and revealing film about the absurdities of the war in Siachen told from both sides of the front. It all began with an inaccurate map. For what happens next, mountaineers from both the West and the two conflicting countries also carry some of the blame. A disturbing and yet at times whimsical tribute to the follies of man who try to own mountains.

Storms – the Movie (P9)
UK 34mis
Directed and Produced by Alastair Lee and Dave Halsted

In the words of the production team – “This is a first – a climbing film without any climbing, narrative or direction.” This onslaught of comic sketches has some very funny, and at times risqué moments. “An experimental climbing comedy on the edge”

Supramonte (P9)
UK 40mins
Directed and Produced by Adrian Berry

Gaz Perry and Steve McClure try to on-sight one of Europe’s hardest big wall free climbs – Hotel Supramonte – in Sardinia. On the way, they upset some French climbers and generally have a good time.

Tah-Shi del-leh (P8)
USA 17 mins
Directed by Aneta Tomaszkiewicz Produced by Jack Frisch

A Tibetan journey following a team of eight climbers and trekkers through the spiritually alive but barren Tibetan landscape, visiting remote monasteries and making new friends, and nearly succeeding on an unclimbed peak.

Typhoon Island (P8)
Austria 52 mins
Directed and Produced by Michael Schlamberger and Nick Upton

An exploration of the mountains and environments of Taiwan, an island more associated with the Tiger economies than the huge unspoilt interior mountains battered by the annual typhoons.

The Great Hokins Rescue (P3)
USA 9mins
Directed by Tyler Young Produced by Tyler Young and Ben Cornish

An historical and entertaining account of the rescue of a stunt parachutist, who once he lands on Devil’s Tower in 1941, couldn’t get down. He is rescued by a team lead by Jack Durrance and includes fascinating archive footage.

The Hand of Fatima (P2)
UK 32mins
Directed and Produced by Toby Molins

A rock climbing adventure from the Sahara in Mali. Four friends climb and explore remote towers in scorching heat and on the 3000ft Hand of Fatima itself put friendship and perseverance to the test.

The Last Race (P4)
Nepal/UK 23mins
Directed and Produced by Alex Gabbay and Subina Shrestha

In the small village of Manang on the Tibet/Nepal border, two young boys are caught in a dilemma. Karma thinks he can win the annual horse race for men, but his friend Lakpa will do anything to try to get to America where his parents have gone many years before. Unfulfilled dreams and disaster await them both.

The Mountain Painting of Julian Cooper (P9)
UK 10 mins
Directed and Produced by Jim Curran

A film made for the launch of a major new exhibition by Julian Cooper, it has a simple and compelling explanation of the techniques that link paint to mountain landscape.

The Script (P6)
South Africa 10mins

Three dysfunctional friends consider what they want to do with their lives, but discover that jumping off the local cliff is a lot more fun than worrying about the future.

The Shadow of Time (P9)
Italian 52 minutes Directed by Fulvio Mariani and Andrea Gobetti Produced by Iceberg Films

Exploring the mysteries of the deepest caves of the Marguareis in the Maritime Alps, where the creation of the caves and the lives of the cavers are seen through the eyes of a blithe shadow spirit who lives in the womb of the earth.

Unparalled
USA 5Mins
Directed and Produced by Josh Murphy

One chapter from a new ski film on the world of free heel skiing.

Weekend Warrior (P8)
Canada 5 mins

Spoof adventure short as a Barbi chick leave Ken behind on the slopes, of the icefalls and in the bar.

Xtreme Tramping – Lord of the Springs (P7)
Canada 4 mins
Directed and Produced by Todd Forsbloom

When even the spoofs start to look good, think again about what you are doing.

Special Programme 1 – Films Not in Competition

Haston - Memories of a Mountain Man

Written and produced by Douglas Eadie - directed by Mike Alexander

Dougal Haston was without doubt one of the finest all around mountaineers of his generation, but his life was tainted with tragedy and controversy. He was one of that special breed who create their own legends, a man more at home in the mountains than almost anywhere else. This is a very thorough and well researched film, with excellent archive materials and interviews with many of Dougal’s climbing companions and closest associates. Perhaps more than anything, the film takes away many of the myths about Haston, while leaving the legend intact. The film comes courtesy of Douglas Eadie and Pelicula Films to whom we are most grateful for this World Première.

The Bat

Directed, Produced and Copyright by Jim Curran and Tony Riley.

It has been 25 years since we screened The Bat in a local church, as part of the first Kendal Mountain Film Festival. The Film won the first Kendal Grand Prize. One of the best climbing films ever, it recreates Dougal Haston and in Smith’s ascent of their fabulous route The Bat on Ben Nevis, while the narration comes from Smith’s lyrical story “The Bat and the Wicked” to tell the tale. The climb was a riposte to Brown and Whillans’ Sassernach and proved that Scottish climbing had equal stars.

Dovedale Grooves

In the film from the award winning “Lakeland Rock” series of 1985, Don Whillans and Chris Bonington ascent Dovedale Groove in tradition style and with tradition gear. Don is overweight and suffering “like a ruptured duck” but still manages to engage the audience with is wit and snide but good natured commentary of Chris’s efforts. It was the first time the two had climbed together since the Everest 75 trip from which Don was unceremoniously dropped – in Bonington’s words – “we took the chance to make up.” It is 20 years since Don Whillans died and this is a small tribute to him.

Berserk in Antarctica

Not a climbing film, but a compelling and at times totally hair raising account of a journey in a very small sailing boat from Norway to Antarctica. The skipper is clearly blue blood Viking but in Argentina he picks up two complete strangers and it is then that the problems begin. The film is too old to be entered in competition, but has been a worthy winner in many other festivals, perhaps in part because of its use of interview techniques and dialogue reminiscent of Touching the Void