2009 Film Finalists, not in alphabetical order…..

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Finalists for Best NZ Made Film

Finalists for Best film on Climbing

Finalists for Best Short Film

Finalists for Best film on Adventurous Sports & Lifestyles

Finalists for Best film on Mountain Culture & Environment

Ski and Snowboard Finalists

Award Winning Films of 2009:

• Grand Prize: Acopan Tepui, screening in Session #4 on Saturday July 4th at 8pm.
• Best NZ made Film; The Hiddleston/ MacQueen Award:   Lost Tower screening in Session #7 on Sunday July 5th at 8pm.
• Best Film on Climbing: The Sharp End screening in Session #9 on Monday July 6th at 8pm.
• Best Film on Adventurous Sports and Lifestyles: No Need for Parking - An African Rock Adventure screening in Session #1 on Friday July 3rd at 8pm & 99 Days on the Ice screening in Session #3 on Saturday July 4th at 4pm.
• Best Film on Mountain Culture and Environment: Sharkwater screening in Session #2 on Saturday July 4th at 11am.
• Best Short Film:  Unbearable Lightness of Skiing screening in Session #11 on Tuesday July 7th at 8pm.

Finalists for Best Made in NZ Film

South Island Circumnavigation

(UK, 2008, Producer & Director Justine Curgenven, 48 min)
A gritty, edge-of-your-seat portrayal of a couple¹s battle against the elements while kayaking 2,400km around the South island of New Zealand. Justine and Barry struggle into 40knot headwinds, are thrown around in crashing surf and cope with illness and a helicopter evacuation in remote fiordland. Close encounters with albatrosses, dolphins & whales and the kindness of strangers keep them going for 67 days on one of the world¹s
toughest kayak journeys.

Speedriding

(NZ, 2008, Producer & Director Mal Haskins, 4 min)
Join three local Wanaka speedriders as they fly from Pub Corner, high on the Treble Cone road. Proximity flying down the mountain face at eye wateringly high speeds.

Quality (NZ, 2009, Producer& Director Jeno Hezinger, 10 min)
Join the team of sky divers as they leap out of, then back into a plane high above Wanaka.

Day at the Office

(NZ, 2009, Director and Producer Finlay Woods, 6 min)
S short film about four 14 and 15 year olds showing some of the things adventurous kids can do in and around Wanaka.

Southern Gold

(NZ, 2008, Director Ben Robson, 30 Min)
Southern Gold is a look at some of the world class white water that is available to kayakers right here in the South Island. Showing that you don't necessarily have to travel far for your white water fix. It illustrates the grassroots approach typical of many keen part-time kayakers, as they travel around, sampling the rivers that are on offer in this part of the world.

Hawk Wall

(NZ, 2009, Director and Producer Guillaume Charton, 5 min)
This movie introduces a new climbing wall located a few minutes from Queenstown. The camera follows the ascent of Johann on ‘Hors de Combat’ (23) with an almost cliché like sunset on his backdrop. This movie is even more genuine due to some funky soundtrack orchestrated by the music students of Wakatipu High School.

South Wye

(NZ, 2009, Director and Producer Guillaume Charton, 10 min)
Just imagine some compact schist baking under the Otago sun with excellent climbing in a true alpine environment: don’t dream further this is all happening in South Wye next to Queenstown. This movie takes you to this multipitch climbing haven and tells the story of Tony Burnell and Estelle Poiron climbing the stellar route: ‘the Big Day Out’. More than a climbing movie the footage brings together the character and the ambiance of this very special place thanks to the camera work and editing of the author and the genuine soundtrack of Queenstown student DJ Jane.

Kayaking the Nevis

(NZ, 2009, Director Pete Simpson, 12 min)
The Nevis River, near Queenstown has been proposed as a hydro scheme. It is also one of the best rivers worldwide for kayaking. Local paddlers regularly run the river and have submitted this film as part of their evidence to support fish and game in the extension of the Kawarau Water Conservation order, which would stop the hydro process. It is a serious piece of whitewater in a valley rich in history; rarely seen by many people, an asset to Central Otago and an ambitious goal for many young paddlers.

Lost Tower

(NZ, 2009, Director and Producer Wayne Johnson, 65 min)
An expedition that doesn’t quite go according to plan. In 2007, Jo Kippax and Sean Waters headed to the Northern Patagonian Icecap to try and climb a remote rock tower they had spied from a plane many years before. The plan was to traverse the icecap, climb the tower and explore their way back to civilisation via the glaciers and rivers of the icecaps south-eastern corner. The Patagonian weather had other plans for their summer holiday. This is a story of two friends with big dreams, and the ups and downs of expedition life.

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Finalists for Best Short Film

Deep (Skinsetsu)

(Japan, 2008, Director and Producer Masaki Sekiquchi, 4 min)
Deep, deep Japaneese powder skiing to drool over…..

Unbearable Lightness of Skiing

(Canada, 2008, Producer & Director Greg Hill, 15 min)
Tired of trying to explain to people what backcounrty skiing is all about, Greg Hill takes the viewer on a season of backcountry skiing in the Columbia mountains. Showing them through the video what ski touring is all about, and what he has been do with his life.

The Acobamba Abyss

(Canada, 2008, Producer & Director Bryan Smith, 6 min
The Acobamba Abyss is considered one of Peru’s most challenging sections of whitewater. Also known as the Abysmo, this section of the Apurimac River bisects the 4000-meter tall Cordillera Vicabamba dropping thousands of feet before entering the Amazon.
Have trailer

Grit Kids

(UK, 2008, Directed by Paul Diffley, Produced by Dave Brown, Hot Aches Productions, 22 min)
Teenagers Pete and Katy Whittaker burst onto the U.K. climbing scene with a series of spectacular ascents on gritstone. One evening after school, with his whole family assembled to watch, Pete attempts a terrifying and truly iconic line at Burbage South.
Banff Award for Best Film on Climbing

If You’re Not Falling

(UK, 2008, Directed by Paul Diffley, Produced by Dave Brown, Hot Aches Productions, 8 min)
Canadian rock legend Sonnie Trotter heads to Scotland to do battle on another “hardest rock climb in the world.” As each day passes, he collects more and more air time: 50-foot falls from the steep rock buttress that plunges down beneath a historic castle. “Well, if you’re not falling, you’re not trying,” observes Trotter.
Banff Best Short Mountain Film

Mansions in the Sky

(UK, 2008, Producer & Director Suzy Madge &
Squash falconer, 13 min)
Two women set out with two aims: to reflect upon and discover what draws them to big mountains and to get down as quickly as possible - one on skis, the other on a bum board.
But the raving winds on Cho Oyu in 2008 means their time is less spent philosophising and skiing and more surviving physically, mentally and spiritually. See how their humour and various base camp toys help them to cope with the ridiculous conditions, as they hope to achieve a five year dream to climb and ski an 8000m peak.

The Cable Car

(Switzerland, 2008, Directors Claudius Gentinetta & Frank Braun
Producer by Claudius Gentinetta, 7 minutes)
While travelling by cable car to a place somewhere in the mountains, an old man treats himself to some snuff. Et voilà! With every sneeze, the cable car cabin falls apart more and more. The man, however, is far from accepting his fate just like that.

Neige à Marrakech

(Morocco, 2006, Director Hicham Alhayat, 14 min)
In order to be able to fulfil the last wish of his dying father – to go skiing in Switzerland – Karim, his 28-year-old son living in Geneva, tries to obtain a visa for him. Upon receipt of a categorical refusal, he decides to take his father to the Moroccan resort of Oukaimeden, hoping to convince him that he is in the Swiss Alps. Aided by his best friend, his sister and a very original restorer, he puts all his powers of imagination to work in trying to offer his father a memorable trip.

Young Blood

(Canada, 2008, Director & Producer by Bryan Smith, 3 min)
Matt Maddaloni sends a hair raising high-ball boulder problem in Squamish.

Training Day

(UK. 2008, Director Claire MacLeod, 8 min)
Dave MacLeod, one of Britain’s best all-round climbers, is in training for the hardest route he has ever tried, high on the north face of Ben Nevis. “Training day” is shot by his wife, Claire, and follows Dave to Spain where he commits himself to one of the world’s hardest solos, which if he fell off could potentially prove fatal.

Total Carnage

(USA, 2009, Director and Producer Sam Lowe-Anker, 7 min)
The 8-ball Kayak Sprint is an event unlike any other. Filmmaker Sam Lowe finds out why the Teva Mountain Games in Vail, Colorado is the only place in the world where this event could take place.

Welcome to the Backcountry

(USA, 2009, Producer and Director Anthony Claudia, 7 min)
In this humorous ‘mocumentary’ short, two protagonists, Johnny and Richard, set off into the Colorado backcountry. These two 1950’s styled characters unwittingly demonstrate the right and very wrong ways of traveling through the snowy wilderness.

Uruca

(Brazil, 2008, Producer and Director Erick Grigorovski, 8 min)
On a Sunday morning perfect for rock climbing, cartoon character Hugo tries one of the most hard and desired climbing routes at the Sugar Loaf in Rio de Janeiro: "Uruca". Extremely difficult and dangerous, it will demand all of his skill and concentration.

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Finalists for Best film on Adventurous Sports & Lifestyles

The Qhapaq Ñan, or Great Inca Road

(France, 2008, Director Megan Son, 67min)
The Qhapaq Ñan – “Great Inca Road”, or “Main Andean Road” – constituted the principal north-south highway of the Inca Empire traveling 6000km along the spine of the Andes. Stretching from the south of Colombia and crossing through Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina to arrive in Santiago, Chile, it allowed the Inca to control his Empire and to send troops as needed from the capital, Cusco.

This documentary recounts a young couples 6000 kilometre journey searching for the Great Inca Road, the Qhapaq Ñan. In spite of daily physical challenges, their voyage addresses the need for this ancient route’s protection, as cultural patrimony, visits the environmental issues that are inherent to the Andes as a great watershed, and learns about the social issues for the communities that live along this monumental road.

Solo

(Australia, 2008, Director & Producer Jennifer Peedom & David Michôd, 60 min)
On January 11, 2007, Andrew McAuley set out on his quest to become the first person to kayak from Australia to New Zealand across 1600km (1000 miles) of one of the wildest and loneliest stretches of ocean on Earth. Thirty days later, New Zealand maritime authorities received his distress call.

Having survived a harrowing and torturous month at sea, conquering monstrous swells and terrifying storms, McAuley lost his life only a day from completing his journey. While his body was never recovered, the camera tapes from his kayak were and they form the basis of this moving and questioning portrait of a complex man, his family, his supporters and his attempt to conquer the impossible. www.andrewmcauley.com
Jury's Award at 2009 Vancouver Mountain Film festival

No Need for Parking - An African Rock Adventure

(South Africa, 2008, Director & Producer James Pitman, 55 min)
This film tells the story of three adventurers epic flying and rock climbing trip around Southern Africa. This charming, anarchic film is simultaneously tension-filled, beautiful and inspirational. No-one can fail to be moved by the trials which the three adventurers face while negotiating the subcontinent's grandest and most dramatic scenery.

The climbers use small planes to transport themselves to three of Southern Africa's wildest and most remote rock walls, which they then climb, while documenting the proceedings on camera. Events, however, seldom turn out exactly as expected. The resulting film, full of the warmth of Africa, is an object lesson in intrepid friendship and contemporary free-spiritedness, set to a kwela soundtrack.

Marco – Shooting Star

(France, 2006, Producer by Seven Doc, Director Bertrand Delapierre, 52 min)

The 23 year old Marco Siffredi is clipped in to his snowboard standing on top of the world at 8848m altitude on the summit of Mt.Everest. He starts his descent down 50° slopes of the Horbein couloir. Already a year earlier, Marco was the first to snowboard down Everest but there was still this new couloir to take on…the most direct route down. However this time, on his way down from the top of the world, the support team lose all trace of him… This story is very different from the usual snowboarding film clichés.

Flying with Eagles

(Denmark, 2006, Director & Producer Anton Gammelgaard, 44 min)
Louise Crandal is the twice winner of the world paragliding championships. Now she has set herself a new challenge: a Russian Steppe Eagle is to be her new training partner in the air. We follow the intense training process from the day they find the untrained Steppe Eagle in Scotland until a few months later as they hang from a paraglider
above Lake Como. Not everything goes according to the plan! The question is whether the eagle is capable of serving as a teacher for Louise Crandal. Will he fly with her? Will he show her where the thermals are, and how to gain height without so much as a beat of his wings?

Azazel

(France, 2008, Director Guillaume Broust, 22 min)
Azazel lures you to a 19-day vertical big-wall trip with Martial, Blutch, Mimouse and Sam. They have to haul up 300 kilograms of equipment along with sausages and beer to keep them going at 6000 meters of altitude. Their scope is to open a new 1,600 meter-long aid route on the mythical Towers of Trango in Pakistan.

99 Days on the Ice

(France, 2006, Director by Jean-Gabriel Leynaud, Produced by Patrick Villeneuve & Karsten Kjaer, 52 min)
Crossing the Arctic, leaving one shore of the ocean and joining up with the other, 2000 km away… Their dream: the longest, coldest and hardest of polar expeditions. But after 99 days struggling on the ice, they had to face the global warming. Canada was getting close, but to save their lives, they had to get air lifted away from the totally breaking ice they were trapped in.

Borealis

(Canada, 2008, Director & Producer Frank Wolf, 49 min)
From Portage and Main in downtown Winnipeg to the family cottage near Parry Sound in Ontario, filmmaker Frank Wolf and his inexperienced friend Taku Hokoyama tackle raging rapids and gruelling portages on a 3,100 km canoe trip through Canada's Boreal forest in an effort to shed light on the issues now facing the wilderness area.

The Boreal Wilderness is a massive swath of forest that lies just north of the Canada-US border. It contains 25 % of the world's remaining ancient forest and is globally significant in its ability to filter water, keep carbon levels in check, and operate as a species habitat.Manitoba and Ontario are home to the largest intact forest area. The remote location has kept it safe for many years, but current interest from the forestry, hydro, and mining industries now threatens the sanctity of the forest.

Deeply committed to their mission and message but never didactic, Frank and Taku, with their offbeat sense of humour, provide an intimate look into the current environmental and social issues facing the region. This is not a typical nature documentary, however.

Our amiable guides cope with bears, black flies and flat tires in order to educate and entertain us over the course of their 75-day adventure. The landscape is stunning and the guides couldn't be more entertaining.
Grand Prize winner at the 2009 Vancouver Mountain Film Festival

Knocking on Heaven’s Door

(Czech Republick), 2008, Producer Martina Prášilová, Director Robim Kaleta, 25 min)
One of the best European skiers, decided to fulfil his dream to become a base jumper and this films follows his experiences as he risks everything…..

Streamlined (Austria, 2008, Director & Producer Pilch Wolfgang, 17 min)
Streamlined is a paragliding action movie with several acro maneuvers and special drop bag jumps such as from bridge, balloon, cable car, dam wall, gyrocopter and finally from aircraft. Additionally there is some wingsuite base action highlighting the difference between a paraglider and parachute.

The Freedom Riders

(USA, 2009, Producers Sam Pope, Jake Hawkes & Chris Kitchen, Director Chris Kitchen, 49 min)
This is a documentary about a core group of dedicated mountain bike riders who set out to build illicit downhill trails in the Teton Mountains of America. After an eight-year battle with the Forestry service, an official trail system is in place, for the exclusive use of downhill riders. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing with numerous arrests and possible jail time for the track builders.

Out There

(USA, 2008, Producer Josh Nielsen, Director Todd Jones, Steve Jones, and Corey Gavitt, 45 min)
In summer the TGR team turned their attention from snow films to the surf and have produced a masterpiece on the surfing world today, with cutting edge athletes on some of the biggest waves around the world and highlighting mankind’s negative impact on many of the surf spots.

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Finalists for Best film on Climbing

Acopan Tepui

(Germany, 2008, Director Jochen Schmoll, Producers Dierk Heimann & Till Hoffmann, 45 min)
The allure of the unknown, mystical tales, forgotten cultures, and a mountain that looms vertically out of the primeval forest - this is the blend of adventure and discovery sought by German climber Stefan Glowacz. The Acopan Tepui plateau is completely isolated from the environment beneath it by a wall of rock up to 800 metres high, and evolution has created an alien animal and plant world on its heights. It is on Acopan’s steep and challenging face that Glowacz and his teammates hope to make a first ascent.

The Sharp End

(USA, 2008, Directed and produced by Peter Mortimer & Nick Rosen, 62 min)
The Sharp End showcases the climbers who risk everything to do the world’s most dangerous and committing climbs. Run-out traditional routes, scary highball boulder problems, ice-covered alpine walls and all-or-nothing free-solo ascents are all part of the game.

To Hell and Back

(UK, 2007, Director Richard Else, Producer Margaret Wicks, 48 min)
In August 2007 Dave MacLeod wrote “Yesterday was the scariest day of my life, and the end of the scariest ten days of my life. The impending lead of my ‘Great Climb’ project on Hell’s Lum crag was hanging over me like a guillotine. It’s the most dangerous lead I’ve ever done...falling off from the crux or above would have meant death”.

Ice, Anarchy and the Pursuit of Madness

(USA, 2008, Directed & Produced by Steve House, 28 min)
Vince Anderson, Marko Prezelj, and Seve House make the first ascent of an unclimbed Karakoram giant: K7 West. Follow them as the trio climbs for three days and nearly misses the summit.

Ice Mines

(Canada, 2007, Directed & Produced by Will Gadd, 30 min)
Where will ice climbers go if climate change destroys the world’s classic ice routes? Canadian Will Gadd and Swede Andreas Spak explored one possible answer in Sweden, where they rappelled 120m deep into abandoned iron mines to check out underground ice routes.

Committed II

(UK, 2008, Director Paul Diffley, 30min)
Join us in enjoying two exciting chapters from this award winning iconic UK climbing film. Rhapsody where Steve McClure, turns his attention to hard trad in spectacular fashion. Then The Walk of Life on a beautiful but terrifying line which takes over the climbers life until finally, sick with nerves and fear, he is ready for this E12 lead.

Expedition Manaslu

(Germany, 2008, Director Carsteu, Producer Moving Adventures Media, 30 min)
This films shows the attempt by two climbers, Benedikt Böhm and Sebastian Haag to climb Mt Manaslu in Nepal, 8,163m. They want to reach the summit at top speed and ski down again.

Onsight

(UK, 2008, Directed & Produced by Alastair Lee, 53 min)
A gripping adventure into the world of cutting edge rock and ice climbing documenting what is possible with a ground up, no pre-practice approach resulting in raw, compelling and often frightening footage. The climbers in this film aren’t necessarily the strongest but they have the biggest kahooners; willing to take a 30 foot fall for the ultimate on sight ascent.
Winner of the Grand Prize and best climbing film at the Kendal mountain film festival 2008. Winner of best climbing film at the Sheffield adventure film festival 2009

Miracle on Everest

(Australia, 2007, Directed & Produced by Jennifer Peedom, 53min)
This is the extraordinary story of mountaineer Lincoln Hall, who was left for dead on Mount Everest, told through a blend of re-enacted and actual footage. It charts his ascent of the mountain and the circumstances that forced his climbing party to leave him behind.

Hall was not dead, though the laws of probability and the unforgiving power of nature say he should have been. He survived his night on the mountain's freezing peaks and, to the utter surprise of another climbing party making an ascent the following morning, was perched, partly undressed, on a 3000-metre precipice the following morning. His first words: "I imagine you're surprised to see me here."

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Finalists for Best film on Mountain Culture & Environment

The Last Nomads

(Canada, 2008, Director and Producer Andrew Gregg, 53 min)
Every year Ian Mackenzie treks through the shredded remnants of the Borneo rain forest, looking for the last of the nomadic Penan. In The Last Nomads, Ian goes back to Borneo with filmmaker Andrew Gregg to document the search for the only remaining hunting and gathering Penan. Ian travels through a series of Penan settlements, moving closer and closer to the last reported nomadic camp, where it is said that the chief has been driven mad by logging and where Ian fears he will see his final glimpse of a vulnerable and ancient people he has come to care about deeply.
Grand Prize winner at the Banff Mountain Film festival

Saving Luna

(Canada, 2008, Directors Suzanne Chisholm & Michael Parfit, Producer by Suzanne Chisholm, 92 min)
Luna, a wild baby killer whale, gets separated from his family and seeks friendship from people; but when officials try to stop him, his life becomes a saga of conflict, loneliness, sorrow, and love.
Banff Mountain Film festival Special Jury Award

Mountain Town

(USA, 2007, Directors Brendan Kiernan & Frank Pickell, Producers Steve Metcalf & Brendan Kiernan, 40 min)
Mountain Town tells the story of several very different people all living in a Colorado resort over the course of a winter season. From the 80 year old artist Gino Hollander to a young woman whose passion for snowboarding and penchant for power tools has led her to a career as one of the world’s few female terrain park builders.

Sharkwater

(Canada, 2007, Director and producer Rob Stewart, 89 min)
Driven by passion fed from a lifelong fascination with sharks, Rob Stewart debunks historical stereotypes and media depictions of sharks as bloodthirsty, man-eating monsters and reveals the reality of sharks as pillars in the evolution of the seas.

Filmed in visually stunning, high definition video, Sharkwater takes you into the most shark rich waters of the world, exposing the exploitation and corruption surrounding the world's shark populations in the marine reserves of Cocos Island, Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.

In an effort to protect sharks, Stewart teams up with renegade conservationist Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Their unbelievable adventure together starts with a battle between the Sea Shepherd and shark poachers in Guatemala, resulting in pirate boat rammings, gunboat chases, mafia espionage, corrupt court systems and attempted murder charges, forcing them to flee for their lives.

Through it all, Stewart discovers these magnificent creatures have gone from predator to prey, and how despite surviving the earth's history of mass extinctions, they could easily be wiped out within a few years due to human greed.

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Ski and Snowboard Films

Return of the Nina

(USA, 2007, Producer and Director Sam Griffin, 52 min)
In the winter of 98/'99, during the La Niña storm cycle, the Mt. Baker Ski Area received just less than 100 feet of snow. At a total of 1,140 inches (29m), this was the most snow ever recorded in one year, anywhere!

Seven years later, following a season of drought brought on by El Nino (the opposite storm system), La Nina returned to Mt Baker and set a new record: The most snowfall ever recorded in one month!!

Under the Influence

(USA, 2009, Producer Josh Nielsen, Directors Todd Jones, Steve Jones, and Corey Gavitt, 65 min)
From industry leader Teton Gravity Research comes a cinematic epic. Shot on 16mm and high definition, Under the Influence is the story of the extraordinary season of 2008/09 as seen through the eyes of world-class skiers and snowboarders. An impossible winter had returned this year and yet again the best snow athletes in the world had fallen under the influence. Entranced by record seasons in regions all over the world no one could be denied. Unthinkable pillow lines in the cascades, hits challenging even the best with an epic Targhee backdrop and menacing snow-pack in Romania. Pining for snow courses through every athlete when the snow flies. This season would not allow deviation, as everyone had become under the influence.

600 Inches

(USA, 2008, Director and Producer Darrell Miller, 45 min)
In Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the relentless winter of 2008 left its mark as one of the snowiest in recorded history, with over 600 of the fluffy white having graced the rocky range of the Tetons. Indulge in the faceshots of the Storm Show crew as they bask in the heavenly depths of endless powder days, waist deep for weeks on end. Follow stuntman/ speedflier Matt Combs as he launches off of 500 foot cliffs, and flies away with the aid of his trusty paraglider. The winter of 08 was one for the record books, the season that we all dream about, it was 600 inches...

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NZ Mountain Film Festival Office