Sheffield Adventure Film Festival - Climbing films & lectures (1-3 March)

The 2013 Sheffield Adventure Film Festival film programme has just been released and there are more films than ever with 80 of the best adventure, travel and extreme sports films hand-picked for you from around the world.  That’s 1,680 minutes of film screened over one weekend at Sheffield’s art deco Showroom Cinema - the UK’s biggest independent cinema outside London. Our 2013 trailer by award-winning film-maker Alastair Lee with soundtrack by Sheffield six piece Screaming Maldini has had more than 14,000 views in just a few days. For climbers there are more films than ever with 18 films spread over four Climb Film sessions plus our Mountain Film session of which 7 are by British film-makers.   Sheffield Adventure Film Festival Director Matt Heason said:  “Last year we had two climbing screenings - this year we’ve got four plus mountain films.  We’re especially delighted to be able to feature so many British film-makers and athletes including Alastair Lee’s Autana, Jen Randall’s Push It, Polished Projects' Echoes and Dave, Image Impossible’s Driven to Despair, Adam Hocking’s Meltdown and both long and short versions of Hot Aches‘ Wide Boyz.  There’s really healthy competition we hope fueled by festivals like Kendal and ShAFF.” There will also be guest lectures by Nick Bullock on his acclaimed autobiography ‘Echoes’, Gordon Stainforth talking about ‘Fiva’ (winner of Banff Best Mountain and Wilderness Literature book) and Pete Whittaker on the ascent of Century Crack.  Proving it’s not always about getting to the top you can also hear the story of the first recorded trek to Mt.Everest by five local students in 1968.  Two of the team, David Peckett and John Driskell, have recently written a book about their adventures and will give a talk at ShAFF.  Plus Lukasz Warzecha - one of the best known and respected names in climbing photography - is also exhibiting as part of our MyOutdoors photography exhibition and will give an illustrated lecture on his life as a photographer and film-maker.  We’re also privileged that Alex Ekins is premiering the behind the scenes photographs of the Wide Boyz’s ascent of Century Crack. Don’t forget also that the Climbing Works International Bouldering Festival will be on just down the road.   Can’t wait til March?  Don’t worry, we’re kicking off on Thursday 7th February with our Climbing Expert Night ‘Push It’ - five of the Britain’s top female climbers share their experiences of what makes them tick and how to push the boundaries.    And because variety’s the spice of life (and perhaps not all your family and friends are climbers!) there’s a whole host of other adventure sports films, talks and lectures as well as four family-friendly Young Adventurers and two new Teen Screen showings.  Don’t forget the Showroom Cinema has a comfy bar/cafe with live music where you can relax in between screenings.  We’ll also have a MyOutdoorsUK photo exhibition and Single Shot photo competition and our second hand kit sale.  And on Friday night the one and only Niall Grimes will be hosting the ShAFF Adventure Quiz.