Kendal - All The Films!

Just a bit of a reminder abut the Kendal Mountain Film Festival 200 which runs from 13th - 21st November. You can get full information on the Festival and its associated events and book on line at www.mountainfilm.co.uk or phone the box office 01539 725133

And just to whet your appetite, here's a complete list of the films showing at this year's festival :-)

---

THE FILM DETAILS &endash; KENDAL MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL 2004

see also Special Film Screenings at the end of this list

 

A Fistful of Steel            GB       55 mins
Directed and Produced by Iain White & Neil Handyside

The film follows Scottish climber Scott Muir and various friends on their quest to repeat the hardest sport mixed climbing routes inEuropeandNorth America.  This is the upside down world of unleashed tooling and moments of tremendous physical commitment and elation.

 

African Fly     France              11mins
Directed by D. Janisewski & J. Ruby               Produced by Ride the Planets

The remote corners of Malihave many sandstone towers and walls which attract the attention of four French climbers.  Much to the delight of the locals, it is also perfect for exciting and beautifully filmed BASE jumping and parapenting.                                                                         

Alone Across Australia   Australia           52 mins
Directed by Jon Muir                       Produced by Shark Island Productions

Jon Muir, an accomplished mountaineer and adventurer, discovers that his greatest adventure is awaiting in his own back yard &endash; a 2000 mile solo south to north continental crossing ofAustralia.  Unsupported, and living only on what he can carry or scavenge     along the route, this is a tale of a man taxed to the limit, both physically and emotionally.

 

Altisimo                        France                          5 mins
Directed by Dominique Janiszewski                     Produced by Ride the Planets

The alpine rivers of northern Italy provide some ofEurope's hardest white water for a group of the best French paddlers.

 

Au Sud Des Nuages (South of the Clouds)           Swizerland        80 mins
Directed by Jean-Françoise Ameguet                   Produced by Bernard Lang

Adrien is both feared and respected by the local people in the Cotter Mountains of Switzerland.  They call him God, and he almost believes it himself.  But then, like many farmers in Cumbria a few years ago, he loses all his cattle.  He leaves his alpine pastures for the first time in his life on a journey to distant China, where he reconnects with his inner self and rediscovers his humanity.

 

Bellavista          Germany           23 mins
Directed by Heinz Zak                      Produced by Michael Pause

The film follows Alex Huber as first he climbs a new route in winter on the N. Face of the Cima Ovest de Laverado, and then goes back to climb it free in summer.  The gripping and notorious 80m roof is wild (8c), and lacks the solid protection of a 'normal' sports climb. 

 

Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place  GB    45mins
Directed by Justine Curgenven, Tim Guilford & Kate Snell Produced by Kate Snell & Mark Dyson (Raw Material productions)

Three friends explore hidden passages only 150 metres beneath normal life on the surface, but they're in one of the last true wildernesses, searching for cave passages in a hollow Welsh hillside - Ogof Draenen - finding a virgin chamber far more beautiful than any of them dared to hope for. The huge stalactites and beautiful aragonite formations are of world class importance.

 

Charles, Edouard ou le Temps Suspendu           France            26mins
Directed and Produced by Bernard Boyer

Silence and the passing of time mark the lives of two elderly brothers living on a mountain farm.  Isolation for the two bachelors is a way of life.  They share few words and live in a routine of caring for their animals and watching the slow cycle of the natural world. 

 

Das Rad (The Rocks)    Germany          8 mins
Directed by C. Steiner, H. Wittlinger & A Uibel    

The beginning and the end of civilization passes by in a matter of minutes, as witnessed by the rocks &endash; you'll never look at a cairn in the same way again.

 

Dolomites Trance           France              7mins
Directed and Produced by: Ride the Planets

The Brandler/Hasse route on the North Face of the Cime Grande de Laveredo makes a fine climb, and the overhanging wall the perfect place for a quick exit &endash; another short classic.

 

Dolpo - Children of the Mountains             France              52mins
Directed by Sylvie Davidson & Pierre Combroux    Produced by Eric Bacos

Tenzin Norbu is a painter who comes from the Dolpo, an ancient and hidden Himalayan kingdom only discovered by Westerners in the '60s, and still cloaked in mystery. From his studio in Kathmandu, the artist brings viewers into this fascinating world. The film unfolds like a fairytale, presenting characters whose stories are moving and remarkable.

 

Eiger North Face            Switzerland                   52 mins
Directed by Frank Senn & Thomas Ulrich Produced by: Swiss Television DRS

Two Swiss guides ask; "are today's climbers capable of repeating the notorious Eiger Nordwand using the equipment of 1938?"  The film follows them for a year as they research, and then have re-made, the "authentic" equipment of the pre war era.  The horrific Eiger conditions, unchanged by 60 years, await them. 

 

Further Than the Eye Can See                USA                 75 mins
Directed by Michael Brown, Produced by: Joshua Colover & Chris Blum

Erik Wiehenmeyer is one of many hundreds of people who have climbed Mount. Everest.  However, there is one big difference in the challenge for Erik &endash; he is totally blind.  This remarkable film follows him and his team of helpers to the summit of the world, and to the heights of human spirit.

 

Highliner   Austria          12 mins
Directed and produced by Heinz Zak

Cimber Dean Potter is known for his bold solo ascents, but this is not a film for the squeamish as he slack lines inYosemite.

 

Fools with Tools            Scotland           14mins
Directed and produced by Paul Diffley & David Brown

A determined but relatively unremarkable group of Edinburgh climbers train and have fun together in anticipation of repeating the dry-tooling test piece Fast and Furious A humorous short film, with real emotion as the climbers push themselves to their own physical and mental limits.

 

Glacier Plastic Power     Austria              23mins
Directed by Christoph Strum        Produced by the Orange Blue Fresh Air team

The benefits of good fun and good training can be seen in this film of ice, steep and nice, as World Cup winner Harold Berger and friends travel indoors and out in pursuit of the perfect and (more often) not-so-perfect placement.

 

Happiness in Slavery      Scotland           16mins
Directed and Produced by Peter Murray

Dave MacLeod is one of the best all-round rock climbers in theUK.  The film follows Dave for more than a month as he works through injuries and numerous falls to final success on the hardest new sport route inScotland. 

 

Huandoy First Base       France              7 mins
Directed by D. Janiszewski & J. Blanc-gras          Produced by Ride the Planets

Huandoy in the Cordillera Blanca of Peru is a difficult mountain to climb, and its west face is the scene of one of the most remarkable BASE jumps ever achieved.

 

I Am Climbing    GB           15 mins
An innovative and humorous look at the obsessive and competitive nature of climbing.  Pythonesque animation and devices add to the interest.  From boulders in British Columbia the team move on to the windy towers of Castleton Valley of Utah. 

 

Ice Axis                USA                  4 mins
Directed and produced by Rich Parnell

A fast and furious ice climbing film on very steep terrain.

 

Le Cheval 2.1     UK        2 mins

Most of us probably dream about being in the mountains, climbing like a god, but perhaps not all.  A short piece of the absurd &endash; don't blink!

 

Meltdown &endash; In the Shadow of Nepal's Lost Glaciers           GB       50 mins
Directed by Richard Heap           Produced by Richard Heap & Eve Wood

For those who love the romantic image of snow capped Himalayan peaks, this is a rude awakening to a new danger.  Global warming is creating potential disaster zones in the many narrow Nepalese valleys.  The film follows a UN sponsored trip with Ian McNaught-Davis and Roger Payne to examine the huge glacial lakes forming behind moraine dams across the region, and one in particular in the Everest region nearIslandPeak.

 

Mount Poi &endash; The Big Thing          Germany           27 mins
Directed by Jochen Schmoll        Produced by Drehxtreme

Africa's highest monolith is hidden away on the high steppes of northern Kenya.  Stephan Glowacz and Jürgen Knappe attempt a new route on MountPoi, and spend culturally enriching time with the local Samburu tribe, before finally making the top on a wild and beautiful route. 

 

My Sore Pussy                          New Zealand      9 mins
Directed and produced by Dave Kwant

The continuing adventures of ex-pat Dave Kwant's team slug &endash;UKand Kiwi branches - as they tackle white water in extremis on the upper Whitcombe River of New Zealand with humour and imagination.

 

Never Say Nevis Again               Scotland           10 mins
Directed and Produced Steve Rogers

This time the White Water is much nearer to home, but just as challenging onScotland's River Nevis.

 

Nima Temba Sherpa             Holland              52 mins
Directed by Margriet Jansen        Produced by Margriet Jansen and Metropolis Film                       

This documentary follows an ascent ofCho Oyu by a commercial expedition through the eyes of one of its employees - Nima Temba &endash; a fairly typical talented Sherpa guide from Rolwaling.  We visit his family and share his impressions of life as an employee of western expeditions where the pay and risks are as disproportionate as so much else that separates the cultures of the West and East.

 

North West Passage &endash; On Franklin's Trail        Ireland              68 mins
Directed and produced by John Murray

Sailing a small boat through the Northwest Passage is one of the truly great challenges left on earth.   The film follows an Irish crew of eight men as they cross theAtlanticand force a passage through to the Pacific on a three month adventure.  They travel through a spectacular Arctic world of ice, mountains and frozen wastes, a world that had mysteriously swallowed up the expedition of John Franklin 150 years earlier.  

 

Parahawking      GB           35 min
Directed and Produced by Graham SaundersGriffin, Scott Mason and Adam Hill

The great raptors of Nepal are diverse, spectacular and in some places under threat of extinction.  A team of ornithologists and parapenters from Britain and Nepal devise an ingenious way to help save them &endash; create a tourist industry that literally "flys" with the birds.  This is an engaging film of an international partnership that crosses cultural and entrepreneurial borders.

 

Pembroke Sea Fervour (Zodiac)  20 mins
Directed and produced by Martin Crocker, Peter Hall and Carl Ryan

Zodiac is a précis of the traditional British Sea climbing experience.  Nowhere is it better told than on the much-loved Pembroke cliffs, and by Britain's foremost sea cliff climbing pioneer of the 1980's - Pat Littlejohn.  The film gives an insight into the way that sea cliff climbing has shaped this doyen of the pure British rock climbing style.

 

Psicobloc          USA     8 min
Directed & Produced by Josh Lowell

On the Mediterranean island of Mallorca, Klem Loskot, Tim Emmett and friends discover some great and spectacular deep water solos on overhanging limestone walls up to 60 feet high. With a warm sea as a crash pad, the climbing is wild and the falls magnificent.

 

Reflections of a Solo Sheep Herder         USA                 15mins
Directed and produced by Trey Chace

This 'mockumentary' will have you laughing and/or your skin crawling, as it sends up some of the best and the worst characteristics of a big wall egotist and chauvinist (in North Carolina?)

 

Sleeping Giants             USA                 41mins

A 'pushing the limits' ski film shot exclusively in Jackson Hole,Wyoming where most of the time they just about get away with it.

 

Socialmente Inutile (Socially Useless)    Italy      15 mins
Directed by Andrea Frigrio                      Produced by Camilla Productions

Socialmente Inultile follows is the story of a free ascent of a route by the same name, an 8a+ on the Pesgunfi in Val Masino.  The climbers follow a philosophy of the same ilk - great climbing and reflections that are shared by many the hard core rock athletes ofEurope.  Contains strong language.

 

Sur les Fils de 4000       France              52mins
Directed by Gilles Chappaz         Produced by Migoo Production/Ville de Grenoble/ Association Grande Cordée.

The challenge for Patrick Berhault was to climb all 82 summit in the Alps over 4000m in three months. With long time friend Phillipe Magnin, they set out fromGrenoble on March 1st 2004 and spent the next 58 days climbing and skiing between the peaks. Their adventure came to a sudden and tragic end when Patrick fell to his death when a cornice collapsed en route to the Dom.

 

The Adventure is Not Yet Over     GB       50mins
Directed by Richard Else                        Produced by Triple Echo Productions

For nearly 50 years, Sir Chris Bonington has been the most respected British climber internationally, and the most dominant and best known figure on the British scene.  But he has not yet hung up his boots.  At 70, Chris spends some time climbing with Leo Houlding in the Blue Mountains of Australia, reflecting on the good and bad times that have shaped his life. 

 

The Bonfire of the Vanities          France              10 mins
Directed and produced by Guillaume Broust

The modern approach to the lesser peaks of the Himalayahas brought them down to alpine scale &endash; at least in the style of ascent.  Sébastien and Jérôme Constant make a fast and fun ascent of what is clearly a very difficult route on the North Face of Pharilapcha near Namche Bazaar inNepal.

 

The Conquest of K2        Italy                   49 mins
Directed by Alessandro Varchetta           Produced by Marco Visalberghi, Francesco Virga

 A depressed but unbowed country after the Second World War, Italy decided on a heroic undertaking that would show its citizens that they were capable of great achievements &endash; the first ascent of the world's hardest mountain - K2.  This chronicle of the ascent of the second-highest mountain in the world features exceptional archival footage, re-enactments, and interviews with expedition members. 

 

The Falcon that Flew with Man    GB                   50 mins
Directed and produced by Leo Dickinson 

Lloyd Buck has trained eagles and falcons for twenty years. Like many, he has been fascinated by just how fast peregrine falcons can fly. Using parachutes, balloons and state-of-the-art micro-accelerometers, Lloyd decided to find out the answer to that age-old question. Andy Montriou, a BASE jumper, and Leo Dickinson train the falcons to chase them in order to get unique footage of the world's fastest creature, but there are unexpected risks entering the domain of another creature.

 

The Fly Up        Kazakhstan      10 mins
Directed by Marat Sarulu            Produced by Film Kino

An encapsulation of a day in the life of a young man trapped in a drab, post-Soviet industrial town. He dreams of soaring above it all and creates the means to do it.

 

The God         Russia         4 mins
Directed by Konstantin Bronzit    Produced by Sergey Selvanoy & Alexander Boyarsky

A clever animated short in which even a God can become furious with a pesky fly &endash; but don't underestimate the will to re-incarnate!

 

The Hardest Way to the Pole      GB       45mins
Directed by Mark Dyson                         Produced by Raw Material Productions

Pen Hadow attempts the first solo walk to the Geographic North Pole, with no support of any kind, via the most dangerous route from Canada.  Pen reflects on his physical, emotional and psychological changes.  To stop himself going mad, he invents a team including 'Molly' the snow brush, 'Swerves and Curves' the ski poles and 'Baskers' the sledge. After losing a ski, he must walk the rest of the way to the Pole. 

 

Thumbnail         Spain                 58 mins
Directed and Produced by Jesús Bosque

On the south coast of Greenland stands the Thumbnail, a granite wall a mile high. Climbers Cecilia Buil and Roberta Nunes approach by kayak, paddling through icebergs and passing whales and seals. They think it will take one week on the wall: climbing, sleeping, working together. If they make it, they will break the record for the longest new route climbed by a team of women.

 

Tom Crean: Antarctica's Forgotten Hero  Ireland 53 mins
Directed by Donncha Ó Briain and John Murray    Produced by  John Murray

This award winning film tells the story of Irishman Tom Crean, who became one of the most indestructible heroes in the history of Antarctic exploration, taking part in three of the four greatest Antarctic expeditions. Using archival photographs and film and interviews with polar historians and relatives of Tom Crean and Ernest Shackleton, the film chronicles Crean's astonishing life of adventure, heroism, and survival against the odds.

 

Trio for One       France              57 mins
Directed by Shay Katz             Produced by Gerard Queray & Katai Lafaille

Dhaulagiri, Nanga Parbat and Broad Peakare three of the world's 14 peaks over 8000m.  Jean Christophe LaFaille aims to ascend all three in the space of three months.  The film takes us on a dramatic and eventful journey which explores the mind, motivation and will to succeed and survive of this devoted mountaineer.

 

Tsavagtattaq      Sweden             27 mins

A single photo of an unclimbed spire in Eastern Greenland taken by friends fires a group of climbers to visit the mountain to try and climb its monstrous headwall.  Failure due to loose rock and bad weather forces a retreat on the first visit, but Tsavagtattaq -"The Tip of he Harpoon" - calls them back to try again the following summer.

 

Twice Upon a Time in Bolivia       GB       50 mins
Directed and Produced by Alastair Lee and David Halstead

Three no-hopers from Lancashire's grimmest corner (Burnley) head out for Bolivia'sCordillera Real in search of 6000m glory. This hysterical journey begins with acclimatization problems, when one member turns into a "scouse wookey".  A stunning mountain route on Pequin Alpamayo becomes a side line to the deadpan humour which takes in bandits, frostbite, donkeys, climbing and full frontal adventure.

 

Women of K2            USA      47 mins
Directed by Jeff Rhoads              Produced by Jennifer Jordan

Whereas Everest has been climbed over 2000 times, far fewer have reached the summit of the world's second highest mountain - K2.  Until this year, only five of them were women, three of whom never made it back down again, including Britons Alison Hargreaves and Julie Tullis.  The film features revealing interviews and rare archival photographs, and tells the story of the obsession these fearless women had with the mountain, and the price they paid.

 

Your Himalayas      Spain               40 mins
Directed by Alberto Iñurrategi      Produced by Anaiak Iñurrategi & Aretxabaleta

This beautiful film by Basque film maker and climber Alberto I?urrategi is a passionate and poetic tribute to his brother Felix who died onGasherbrum2 while the - brothers were well on their way to complete all 8000m peaks.   The void left by this loss forces questions on motivation as he returns to theHimalayato carry on without Felix at his side, and yet his presence is still with him.

 

---

SPECIAL FILM SCREENING AND PROGRAMMES

 

Wednesday 17th November 7:00pm The Theatre Brewery Arts Centre

 

White Water & Wheels, Bikes & Boats

 

7:00 pm Welcome and Intro

 

7:05 pm No Big Names II       USA       38 mins

Directed and Produced by Brent Buntyn, Ben Stookesberry, & Eric Seymour

 

An all action white water road trip to the some wild locations in the US and Mexico

 

7:45pm Chain Reactions 5        USA        10 Mins

Produced and Directed by Don Hampton

 

Three competition chapters from this award winning bike film &endash; an onslaught of hair raising descents, broken bikes and bones.

 

7:55pm Wehakin       USA        5 Mins

Directed and Produced by Arden Oksanen & Trask McFraland (Teton Gravity Research)

 

An atmospheric short film which uncovers the hidden waterfalls and rivers in Iceland.

 

8:00pm break

 

8:20pm Sacred Water &endash; the Ganges An Multi-media Adventure

 

Adventure writer and photographer team, Maria Coffey and Dag Goering, present a highly acclaimed multi-media lecture which charts their journey down the remote reaches of India's most sacred river.

 

9:05 Altisimo       France        5 mins

Directed by Dominique Janiszewski Produced by Ride the Planets

 

The alpine rivers of northern Italy provide some of Europe's hardest white water for a group of the best French paddlers.

 

9:10 Self Titled       Canada        25 mins

Directed by Mike Kinrade Produced by MPF Productions

 

All action mountain bike journeys and stunts in America and Canada with some of the best in the sport.

 

9:40 My Sore Pussy        New Zealand        9 mins

 

Directed and produced by Dave Kwant

 

The continuing adventures of ex-pat Dave Kwant's team slug &endash; UK and Kiwi branches - as they tackle white water in extremis on the upper Whitcombe River of New Zealand with humour and imagination.

 

9:50 Never Say Nevis Again        Scotland       10 mins

Directed and Produced Steve Rogers

 

A short action documentary about white water kayaking in the Scottish highlands focusing on a kayak journey down the River Nevis. The film engages the viewer in the experience through the use of on board cameras and inventive camera techniques.

 

10:00 Close

 

 

Thursday 18th November 7:00pm The Theatre Brewery Arts Centre

 

"Dumping It Down" &endash; An Evening of Ski Exploration

 

7:00 pm Welcome and Intro

 

7:05 Soul Purpose        USA       21 mins

Directed and Produced by Todd Jones, Dirk Collins, Steve Jones, Corey Gavitt (Teton Gravity Research)

 

Soul Purpose explores the minds and abilities of the athletes. With trips to the far-off reaches of the planet including Russia, Alaska and Canada, this film captures the best of big-mountain skiing and snowboarding while still focusing on skiing's free style movement

 

7:25 Skiing the Back of Beyond Lecture

 

Rob Collister is a passionate advocate of low impact, unsupported journeys in the hills. Past president of the British Mountain Guides, his lecture covers ski mountaineering explorations in remote areas such as Mt Waddington (BC), Alaska, India, Lebanon and Corsica.

 

8:10 Break

 

8:30 A Willing Suspension of Disbelief       USA        4 mins

Directed and Produced by Riley Morton

 

In the States, you loose your ski pass for going off piste. Will the ski patrol catch their man?

 

8 :35 Max et Sa Belle-Mere       France 1911        20 mins

Max Linder

 

The earliest ever ski film? We bring back by popular demand this slapstick comedy &endash; a story of a couple's attempt to escape "Sa Belle Mere" on a skiing honeymoon to Chamonix.

 

8:55 Sleeping Giants       USA       41mins

Directed and produced by Darrell Miller

 

A 'pushing the limits' ski film shot exclusively in Jackson Hole, Wyoming where most of the time they just about get away with it, beating the avalanches and squeezing through tight gulleys.

 

9:40 Salad Days       USA       10 mins

Produced by Teton Gravity Research

 

We finish with a sequence of spectacular jumps and stunts, crash and burn.

 

9:50 Close

 

Additional Films Screened at KMFF 2004

 

Balance of Risk GB 9mins

 

Directed and Produced by Brian Hall, Keith Partridge, Jamie Andrew

 

Climber Jamie Andrew returns to the rock after a horrific accident on the North Face of the Droites in the French Alps which killed his climbing partner. This excellent and moving portrait from Kendal Festival Director Brain Hall and Extreme Film School Manager Keith Partridge has not been entered in competition.

 

Brotherhood of the Rope USA 50mins

 

 

Exploring the Heights USA 45 mins

 

Directed and Produced by Dr. Charles Houston

 

The Brotherhood of the Rope The first film is a story of the 1938 and 1953 American K2 expeditions, and the incredibly robust team spirit, particularly on the 53 expedition when sticking together was the only key to survival. The film was completed just weeks before the festival. It uses rarely seen footage, original drawings by Dee Molenar, and a rediscovered K2 symphony written specially for the expedition. Brotherhood of the Rope is dedicated to Dr Houston's K2 team partners. Exploring the Heights is another remarkable film chronicle, covering both the two American K2 expeditions, and also Dr. Houston's high altitude research projects, and perhaps most remarkable of all, the story of the successful British/American expedition to Nanda Devi in 1936. These films can be seen as part of Dr. Houston's three personal appearances at the Festival &endash; check the lecture programmes for locations and dates.

 

Hot Rock Challenge GB 23mins

 

Directed by Dave Lucas and Melissa Nesbitt

Produced by Melissa Nesbitt 23 mins

 

Dave Lucas presents a special programme on the Hot Rock Challenge on slides and on film - a pacey, innovative and musical tour of exciting new rock climbing areas in Africa and Peru. The hour long programme will take place at 5:30 pm on Friday evening the 19th of November in the Malt Room. Look out for the repeat of the film in the Malt Room film programme over the weekend. Entry is free.

 

Extreme Film School

This years five 2 minute short films are as good as last years award winning works. They will be shown several times during the weekend. Polaris and No Cycling will also be shown as part of the Wednesday evening programme.

 Polaris Challenge - Tim Sayers & Barry Roberts - A film on " the hardest mountain bike race in the world". This fast paced film follows a team which competed the race in the Lake District this October.

No Cycling - Peter Gomer, Robert Hewson, Alun Williams - Unicycling in the mountains needs skill and a lot of guts - watch this short film and be amazed at where they can go in the hills.

 Dreams - Hugo Glover & Farah Iqbal The conflicts of an Asian girl in the city are released by reaching the summit of Ingleborough.

Bie"re pour tout le monde - Adrian Berry and Louise Alexander. - French boulderer climbs some of the hardest Peak District problems

 

Prohibited - Dominic Gill and Mike Silver - Buildering has a long tradition within the climbing world and this team of young climbers work out some new problems in the inner city.