This year’s Sheffield Adventure Film Festival is right around the corner, kicking off 18th March and finishing on the 20th. The festival will feature inspiring documentaries and short films made my some of the most ambitious and accomplished adventurers around. Ahead of the event, ShAFF has announced their winners so that attendees (and curious looky-loos such as yourself) can scope out the best flicks of the weekend.
“I’m amazed at how busy and creative people have been over the last year or two despite limited international travel.” Comments filmmaker and festival judge, Hannah Maia, “It feels like there are fewer big expedition stories but in its place are some really creative interpretations. SHAFF 2022 has got something for everyone!”
The standout project this year is Jess Kimura’s Learning to Drown, the only film to win the gold award in three separate categories. This intimate, articulate, and ultimately badass film follows the life and career of professional snowboarder Jess Kimura. We get to know Jess, her unique personality, her unwavering devotion to the sport, and her head-on encounter with her deepest fears.
Following the tragic death of her partner, the momentum of Kimura’s career and ambitions came crashing to a halt. She fell into a deep depression, struggled with head injuries alongside her grief, yet fought back with all of her strength. The result is a poignant meditation on how we can learn to deal with loss and fear in the dangerous world of outdoor adventure. The Film is screening on Friday and Sunday evening.
For those who love to run, catch the gold prize winner for Best Running Film: Going the Extra Yard. This unlikely gem started off as a promotional film for the Suffolk Backyard Ultra, but turned into something far larger when two of its subjects ended up locking horns in a backyard race and both smashing through the world record, determined to be the last man standing (well, running).
If you find yourself inspired to go running (and most likely a bit restless from sitting still all day) then worry not: the team from My Racekit North are leading night runs from 6pm on Saturday. Sign up for a guided run (or three) which includes an LED Lenser headtorch! Attendees who are new to trail running or wanting to boost their long-distance stamina are welcome to watch Dave Taylor’s free talk: How Hard, How Far, How Often?
