Trek & Mountain attended Saturday’s film awards event at Kendal Mountain Festival, and the entertaining tone struck by host Ed Byrne was matched by the level of the quality of the winners in a range of categories.
Attracting over 497 submissions from across the globe, a curated selection of 90 films were judged against twelve competitive categories, including prizes by genre and creative excellence. Luminaries of the media and outdoor industry made up the judging panel chaired by broadcast journalist Keme Nzerem; Vimeo Staff Picks curator Ian Durkin, Kendal Mountain Festival co-founder, Brian Hall; Award-winning filmmaker Hannah Maia and author and founder of the prestigious Boardman Tasker Award for Mountain Literature, Maria Coffey.
You can scroll down to see the full list of winners, but the Grand Prize went to National Geographic’s Free Solo, directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin and received its UK premiere at the festival. The critically-acclaimed documentary profiles American climber Alex Honnold as he attempts to free-solo climb Yosemite’s iconic rockface El Capitan.
Award winners were presented with a trophy sculpted by artist Andy Parkin and cash prizes at what has colloquially become known as the Oscars of the Outdoors.
THE WINNERS
Grand Prize: Free Solo
Judges Special Prize: Wonderful Losers
Judges Special Prize: Chasing Monsters
Best Short Film: AMA
Best Environment Film: The Island and the Whales
Best Mountaineering Film: La Congenialità The Attitude of Gratitude
Best Adventure and Exploration: Zabadast
Best Climbing Film: Dawn Wall
Best Culture Ascending: Afghanistan
Best Adventure Sport: Divided
Best Sound: Parasol Peak
Best Visual: This Mountain Life
People’s Choice: Underdog
Following the announcement earlier in the week of the winners and runners-up of the Kendal Mountain Festival Photography Competition, the Grand Prize was tonight revealed as George Karbus’ Dreamy days on the west coast of Ireland.
More info at: www.mountainfest.co.uk