E11 Reaches New Heights In Edinburgh:-)

The big screen version of Dave MacLeod's (in)famous E11 at Dunbarton Rocks impressed the audience at Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival last weekend, where it bagged all three film prizes. The 'People's Choice' award has been voted for by festival-goers every year since the EMFF kicked off in 2003, and 'E11' joins previous winners, 'Pushing Winter' (2003), 'Never Say Nevis Again' (2004), and 'Canno-bagging' (2005) as the biggest crowd-pleaser. New this year were two additional categories - 'Best Film' and 'Best Climbing Film' - chosen by a panel. It seems they agreed with the masses though ...

Twenty-two films were screened in the course of the 3 day festival, from over a hundred entries, and 'E11' was a hot favourite right from the start. If you haven't seen it yet, it shows - you've guessed it - a rock climb graded E11. Funny that. More specifically, it's the story of Dave MacLeod's ascent of Rhapsody, the direct finish to Dave Cuthbertson’s 1983 route Requiem (E8 6b) at Dumbarton Rock, a 70 metre volcanic plug northwest of Glasgow. Officially, that's the hardest traditional rock climbing ever achieved, with a 7a technical grading.

Dave Brown, manager of the film's producers, Hot Aches, described himself as "really chuffed" by the film's popularity. Dave MacLeod also put in an appearance at the festival and got a fair old round of applause for his efforts - quite right too.

The festival organisers are already looking for entries for next year's film and photography competitions at the fifth EMFF, from 19th to 21st October 2007. The closing date is 30 June 2007. Full details at www.edinburghmountainff.com.