Highlights of the 2006 Festival FilmsThe 2006 Mountain Festival Film Competition received entries from all over the world covering a huge range of subjects and contained some moments of absolute brilliance! Here are some of the films that were shown:
This film follows a determined 16 year old woman who braves the disapproval of her family to work as a porter in the Solukhumbu Climbing in Morocco If you’ve never thought of Morocco as a destination, you will after seeing this. Beautifully filmed with a great soundtrack, it explores Crossing the Lines A ten thousand mile road movie. The intrepid three take off in a dude-mobile from the snow-capped peaks of Canada to the sandy beaches of Mexico, indulging their passions – climbing, paragliding and even a spot of nightlife in Las Vegas. It’s funny with great graphics and landscape views. Racing the Hidden Dragon Hong Kong portrayed from a very different angle; extreme endurance running set amid a landscape of extreme contrasts. Scenes of stunning beaches and verdant hills certainly challenge the stereotypical view of Hong Kong. We follow a team of friends preparing and participating in a gruelling 100km run into the hills and get a flavour the highly competitive nature of this team race. Elements of the personal, environmental and cultural aspects of Hong Kong make it so much more interesting than simply of film about endurance running. Haston – A Life in the Mountains A very honest portrait of Dougal Haston(1940-1977) the climber who was born in Currie near Edinburgh and who became a leading alpinist. Notably, he summited Everest with Doug Scott on Chris Bonnington’s 1975 expedition, surviving a night of exposure at extreme altitude. He is remembered and analysed by those who new him best including the Film Festival patron Hammish MacInnes. A complex and sometimes difficult man, the film doesn’t seek to sanitise or sanctify him. This film gives a fascinating insight into a brilliant but tragically shortened life and has a wide appeal beyond a climbing audience.
Simon’s second film. No big names, no big budget (in fact no budget at all). Just another day in the mountains…. Some friends go in search of decent pizza and Italian coffee, taking in descents of the Glacier d’Entreves and Tour Rounde with Brenva Glacier along the way. Ski-mountaineering in Chamonix. Thrill Seekers Filmed and edited in 2 days as part of the Kendal Mountain Film Festival 48 hour Extreme Film Challenge. This film won the competition. Thrill Seekers follows two men’s search for a day’s excitement in the hills.
Paul Raistrick’s short films are well known to Fort William audiences. In particular he is known for his amazing one-man The River Saga Born and bred in Lochaber, the brothers are passionate about the environment. Innes has composed a poem, on ode to a river, and reads it whilst the film depicts the beauty of the water flowing over the landscape. It challenges us to reflect on and value the river. The Dudes of Hazzard The talented teenage mountain bikers’ first short film to be publicly screened. Very well received at last year’s festival, they have entered it for the Young Filmmaker competition this year. A very light-hearted look at downhill mountain biking in Lochaber. Poached Salmon Eggs The children were supported in making of this film by Cal MacAninch the actor who played the leading role in the BBC series “Rockface”, set in Fort William. While his was on location filming Cal started climbing and doing some of his own stunts. Such is his affinity with the place, he established a trust to support young people in outdoor and film pursuits. The idea and the script is the work of Martin MacLeod, a pupil at Lochaber High School who is undertaking his silver Duke of Edinburgh award under the auspices of the pupil support unit at the school. This film is irreverent look at a cultural aspect of Lochaber life.
Follows Fionn Griffiths, a professional mountain biker, as she competes in the World Cup downhill series in Fort William in 2003. This is an extremely challenging, dangerous and expensive sport to pursue professionally. The film portrays the difficulties that professionals in ”minority” sports have to face in terms of lack of recognition by the sponsors and the media and consequently highlights Fionn’s commitment to her sport.
This is a rather raw film which we have decided to screen because it is a stark, honest portrayal of a commercial expedition in Russia in 2004. It records the experience of the group who arrive at the base camp, hoping to climb Chan Tegri a 7010m peak, to discover that 12 people have just been killed in an avalanche. The theme, indicated by the title, is commercialism in mountaineering and it’s possible consequences. This film was awarded a distinction at the second Cracow Festival of Mountain Films. L’Auberge (The Hostelry) An adaptation of a Maupassant story set in 1901, this tells the scary tale of 2 men who are guardians of a remote mountain hostel which is snowbound and closed for the winter. One day the younger of the two sees on old newspaper report which shatters his sense of serenity in the mountains and changes his life forever. Mission Possible 4 Fort William women cyclists attempt to complete the Aonach Mor downhill course with the support of 4 women downhill racers. A comedy of “normal” riders taking in great views of the area in good weather. Where the Sun Never Sets An interview with one of the Uk’s best young kayakers, Rosie Cripps. The footage is taken on a white water expedition to Norway, where Rosie and her friends run some rivers in the remote north of the country which have seldom been kayaked before. The film gives a good insight into what she loves about her sport. Cano-Bagging Three ex-national team skiers decide to go to New Zealand to have some fun away from the rigours of coaching. They plan a ski-touring trip to “bag” volcanoes. The death-defying training starts on Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh. Inverted Staircase Sarah is a 21year old media productions student at Staffordshire University. This is her first documentary. She profiles a climber, Zeff, and what attracts him to climbing. Her aim is to encourage new climbers and inspire people who perhaps hadn’t considered the sport at all.
Also showing in the 2006 festival A silent film by Grode Gunnar Sommerfeldt in 1921; 100mins; accompaniment by Norwegian and local musicians. Banff Mountain Film Festival Click here to view the Banff films we will show at 2006 festival Check out this film clip from local film maker Dougie Price.
Riding around Laggan |
Nyima and the Porters
valley, Nepal, in order to try to make enough money to fulfil her ambition to open a shop. She repeatedly treks the route towards Everest base camp carrying loads of up to 50kg, yet has never seen Everest. There are no roads in the Khumbu valley and everything a western trekker uses or buys has been carried there by a porter. This film gives a unique insight into the lives of the porters without whom the tourism of Nepal would be impossible. In the words of the filmmaker this is a “tribute to humble heroes”. 
the Todra Gorge which is the most developed climbing area in Morocco, as well as the boulders of Tafraoute. See the magical sands of Merzouga and Jebel Toubkal the highest mountain in North Africa at 4167m as well as glimpses of Berber culture. A very enjoyable and entertaining film even for non-climbers.
Short-listed for Grand Prize
Just Another Day
Caught Short in the Park
filming technique. He walks or climbs to the top and lowers himself on ice axes into near-vertical gullies where he has previously placed a static camera. He boards down the gully, climbs back up, replaces the camera lower in the gulley, goes to the top again, boards down and repeats this ‘til he gets the footage he wants. Incredible. For this film he and 4 climbers, including his brother, head for Baffin Island in the Canadian Arctic circle with Mount Asgard the climbing goal. There’s footage of spectacular, remote scenery and, as always, a great soundtrack.
Dirty Girl
Chantegri.com
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