Wednesday, 14 January 2015 15:12

ShAFF Industry Hangout to present new award for adventure film and photography

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Every year thousands of people flock to the great outdoor festivals around the world, watching the combined output of the finest adventure film makers and photographers, and every year the likes of Banff, Kendal, Edinburgh, Trento and ShAFF hand out awards to the producers of the top films. There's a lot more, however, to putting a film in front of 8000 people than just making it and to give the distributors, PR companies, and industry professionals who also contribute heavily a chance of recognition ShAFF's Industry Hangout will be introducing a new award in 2015.

Sponsored by the Outdoor Industries Association the award is for "Contribution to Adventure Film and Photography" and covers all steps in the process of film production, distribution, publicity and screening. The shortlist has been selected after extensive consultation to cover contributions in the calendar year 1st January to 31st December 2014 and the vote will be made by the 100 invited industry professionals at the OIA Industry Hangout. This year's award will take the form of a custom ceramic bowl hand made by famous climber Johhny Dawes and will be presented at the Industry Hangout on March 21st.

The Award will be presented at the Outoor Industries Association sponsored Industry Hangout by OIA CEO Andrew Denton

The Shortlist:

 

Martyn Ashton: For Road Bike Party 2

Martyn Ashton is often described as a mountain biking legend and has been credited with turning trials from a niche form of riding into the sport it is today. After the phenomenal success of his Road Bike Party, Martyn was working on the sequel when an accident during a trials display  left him paralyzed from the waist down. Not giving up however Martyn completed Road Bike Party 2 with the help of  Danny MacAskill and Chris Akrigg. "Road Bike Party 2" was released on 10/Dec/2013, and like the first episode became a success making it one of the most influential bike films of 2014 with more than 7.5 Millions views and 66.000 likes in the first month alone

 

BMC TV: For adventure film and photography distribution

Over the last year the BMC has really embraced the digital world and through their BMC TV channel have both commissioned and made accessible a range of videos covering all aspects of the outdoors. Through sponsorship the BMC has helped finance films on hill walking, climbing and mountaineering throughout 2014 and has provided a platform for several exclusive projects.

 

Ian Burton: For As the Crow Flies

Ian Burton broke the stranglehold of Alastair Lee and Paul Diffley in picking up the coveted People's Choice Award at Kendal Mountain Festival for his film As the Crow Flies. With no chance of re-shoots in a constantly moving expedition from Land's End to John O' Groats in a straight line Ian used the latest technology to shoot through the night on record breaking kayak legs and created the atmosphere and feeling of an exhausting project. The finished film reaffirms the value of "live" expedition filming after a period of more "glossy" productions taking the awards

 

Lissa Cook: For promotion of adventure film and photography

The most reluctant nominee on the shortlist Lissa Cook handles publicity and promotion for a portfolio of clients that put adventure film and photography in fron of literally tens of thousands of people annually. As PR for Sheffield Adventure Film Festival, Buxton Adventure Festival, Steep Edge and the European Outdoor Film Tour Lissa probably watches more films a year than anybody in the country and is instrumental in the organisation of the festivals themselves.

Lissa Cook

 

Ian Corless: For adventure photojournalism

Another legend in his sport, Ian Corless is the name trail and ultra runners turn to whenever they want the latest news, views, reviews and interviews from around the world. With 78 episodes already produced, Ian's Talk Ultra is the most respected podcast available for runers and his Sky Running reports have been groundbreaking. As a photographer, journalist, and broadcaster Ian Corless has been the pre-eminent name in endurance running in 2014

 

Alastair Lee: For the Brit Rock Tour

2014 saw multiple award winning film maker Alastair Lee take a new direction; taking a series of short films on tour around the UK rather than a single "blockbuster" as in the previous 3 years. The response was astounding with packed audiences up and down the country following the Rheged Premiere. With over 5000 "bums on seats" the tour broke all known records for an adventure film tour. Through co-hosting with community groups the tour also helped raise funds for numerous causes including Mountain Rescue.

 

Steep Edge/Vertebrate Publishing: For Distribution of adventure film and photography

Since joining the Vertebrate stable Steep Edge has rapidly become the dominant distribution platform for downloading and streaming adventure films, froviding access via computer and mobile to hundreds of films for thousands of people. Covering a wide range of sports and activities Steep Edge regularly update with the latest trends and most watched films promoted through social media. Vertebrate Publishing, meanwhile, have continued their domination of the outdoor book market and produced the stunning Jon Griffith volume Alpine Exposures

 

John Summerton: For promotion of adventure photography

When John Summerton and his team produced the first edition of Sidetracked magazine the whole adventure world took notice. In a single issue the publication changed the face of adventure publishing, raising the bar on content and production quality. Universally acclaimed the magazine has gone on to build on its initial success with equally high standard second and third issues.

Stu Thompson: For The Ridge

With over 27 and a half million hits The Ridge has been the adventure hit of the year. The stunning film of Danny MacAskill taking on the infamous Cuillin Ridge on Skye took the world by storm and cemented Stu Thompson and Cut Media's position as one of the world's leading film producers. Taking on the natural features of the knife edge ridge as opposed to man made obstacles opened up the film to a new audience of outdoor enthusiasts and maintained MacAskills position as a world leader.

 

Lukasz Warzecha: For Wild Women

Where do you start with trying to recount the influence of Lukasz Warzecha in 2014? From amazing images from the Ice Climbing World Cup to a National Geographic assignment on Skye his images his been everywhere. In producing the Wild Wome series, however, he highlighted the talents of some of the UKs leading female adventure athletes while encouraging greater participation in front of and behind the lens.