Kendal Festival Winners 2009

This year's 2009 Kendal Mountain Festival was, by all accounts, a resounding success. Visitor numbers were actually slightly down on last year at a shade below 7,000 in total, but given the flooding in the Lakes, that's actually quite impressive.

The winning films are all listed on the festival web site now with a full report and pictures to follow, but there are a couple of stand-outs. The Grand Prize, presented by Berghaus went to 'First Ascent - Alone On The Wall' by Peter Mortimer and Nick Rosen, the same film also won the Best Climbing Film category presented by Climber Magazine.

The 24-minute film is Episode 3 of a television series made by Sender Films in the States for National Geographic and, say the makers is 'the first-ever series dedicated to rock climbing culture'.

The other big winner was the new Alastair Lee film of Leo Houlding's Asgard Project which landed the People's Choice Award by popular vote. It is, by all accounts, an absolutely stunning film and, all the more so for having been filmed in brutally hostile conditions on Baffin Island.

If you missed the Festival, the good news is that The Asgard Project is due to be released on DVD at the end of November - just in time for Christmas - and you can already pre-order from Al Lee's web site at www.posingproductions.com where you can also view the trailer of the film.

Congratulations to all the weekend's winners, you can find a full list at www.mountainfest.co.uk.