Latest news with #NZMountainFilmandBookFestival
Scoop
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Celebrating The Sublime: Look Out Wins 2025 NZ Mountain Book Of The Year
Press Release – NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival Look Out is an artistic collaboration that celebrates the sublimity of New Zealands SouthernAlps by two well-known New Zealand artists, Euan Macleod and Craig Potton. Lake Wānaka, New Zealand (23 May 2025) – Euan Macleod and Craig Potton have been selected as the winners of the 2025 Nankervis/Bamford NZ Mountain Book of the Year award for their book Look Out. The $2,000 grand prize is awarded in the NZ Mountain Book Competition as part of the long-running NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival. Look Out is an artistic collaboration that celebrates the sublimity of New Zealand's Southern Alps by these two well-known New Zealand artists. Two friends, painter Euan Macleod and photographer Craig Potton, are both drawn to the high mountains around Aoraki/Mt Cook in the central core of the Southern Alps of New Zealand. 'Here is a mountain art book that is not over-endowed with words though there is a long introductory essay to set the scene,' explains judge Marjorie Cook. The task for readers then is to observe and reflect on what stories could be revealed in mountain paintings (MacLeod) and photographs (Potton). Such is the subjective nature of art, there is unlikely to be just one story. One moment the mountains and the mountain men look murderously scary, deathly and cold. Next, they appear soft, warm and comfortable.' 'I thank the organisers of the NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival and am truly delighted and grateful Euan and I have won the Mountain Book of the Year with Look Out,' says Potton. He continues, 'We have both gotten more than we will ever know from the Southern Alps and even at our advanced ages we find ourselves at Aoraki, in the throne room of the mountain gods, with the same awe, amazement and joy of the sublime that we have felt from our first trips there so long ago. It was our hope that our art might convey something of that connection to the mountain wilderness and your nod to our book has vindicated that hope.' The overall prize for the Nankervis/Bamford NZ Mountain Book of the Year is awarded for a book that brings the mountain experience into the hearts and minds of the reader and leaves people with a knowledge of, and respect for, the place the mountains play in the human and physical worlds. Potton explains that the award has a special meaning for him. 'For me it is very special and poignant that this generous prize has been established as part of the wonderful legacy my friend Nank bequeathed to our mountaineering community. When first heading to the Southern Alps I was inspired by Nank and Dave Bamford's forays on the western side of the central Southern Alps when they were pushing up great original lines. In those days it was the epitome of wilderness climbing. Nank became a friend, opening my book launch and exhibition on my Nepal book and during my tenure on the Conservation Authority when he was serving on the Tongariro National Parks Board. We frequently talked conservation issues. He knew the Conservation Act inside out and had such a big heart for the places and people we were trying to protect …. a most likeable humorous and generous man … To have won this award in honour of Nank's legacy is a highlight in my publishing path.' The Mountain Book Competition covers literature on the world's remote places, expedition tales and stories about people and their adventures. Submissions were invited for two categories: Mountain and Adventure Narrative for stories and accounts about specific adventures (non-fiction); and Mountain and Adventure Heritage for guidebooks, coffee table or picture books, history books, analyses, reflections on culture, environments or ethics and advocacy. The Heritage Award goes to Kahurangi by Dave Hansford. The book is a celebration of the biodiversity of Kahurangi National Park, Northwest Nelson and Golden Bay. Energised by ancient, complex geology and a multitude of habitats, from vast beech stands to lush coastal rainforest, from sprawling ramparts of karst and marble to extensive wetlands and estuaries, this region holds the greatest variety of plants and animals in the country. 'Hansford is simply a wonderful natural history writer,' says Cook. 'His first sentence, his first scene – detailing a paleolithic orgy of creatures forever fossilised in the act of getting it on – is startling and memorable. Just a warning. This book is big, meaty, dense and packed with knowledge and great images and photos. You will not be able to romp through it in one sitting.' Hansford said, 'It's gratifying to hear that others see the same wonder, the same beauty, the same lessons in Kahurangi that I see. My heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped me tell this story; the scientists, the rangers, the volunteers, my publisher, my editor, my wife— but especially all those gifted photographers who crafted a sprawling wilderness into exquisite pixels.' Andrew Fagan takes out the Narrative Award for his book Swirly World: Lost at Sea. Known to many as the frontman of the iconic 1980s band The Mockers, Fagan has also carved a distinct path as a solo sailor and author. In 1994 he set the record for the smallest sailing boat to sail from New Zealand to Australia, and in 2007 his NZ circumnavigation via the subantarctic Auckland Islands set the record for the smallest sailing boat to have done so. Swirly World: Lost at Sea documents his harrowing experiences and the psychological challenges faced when confronting the vast, unpredictable power of the ocean. Judge Marjorie Cook describes the book as 'a love story to a boat not much bigger than a bathtub, in which Fagan attempts to circumnavigate the globe. In delivering this very enjoyable book, Fagan weaves together past and present sailing adventure stories while having another go at 'living the dream', this time on a potent ocean of doubts. Expect to find lyrical sentences, humour, self-depreciation, and attention to detail.' Fagan said he was 'totally flattered' by the award, describing it as an 'unexpected accolade!' He adds, 'I'm looking forward to discussing the pleasures and pains of solo offshore sailing at the festival.' Fagan and Hansford will be guest speakers at the NZ Mountain Book Festival in Wānaka in June. Before selecting the winners of the 2025 NZ Mountain Book competition, the judges had a difficult task narrowing the entries down to six finalists. Head judge Allan Uren said, 'The lineup has been a real pick n mix, from surfing, skiing, tramping, sailing, climbing, even a collection of guidebooks. Notable in its absence has been pure mountaineering books. Maybe it's becoming harder for mountaineering authors to come up with anything new to say or ways to get across the essence of mountaineering. Here's hoping that's not the case. 'Production values have also been high, with dazzling photography. Some of the book covers are things of such beauty that you'd want to display them as objects of art in their own right. 'Everybody always says it is difficult to pick a winner from such a high calibre of books and that is true of this year's collection. It's unfortunate that a prize can't be given to all the authors for the amount of passion and work that obviously goes into each, and every book judged. But it makes your spirit soar to know that there is such high standard of book being produced and the festival is there to give them wings.' The 2025 finalists were: Mountain & Adventure Narrative Award Swirly World: Lost at Sea by Andrew Fagan Sam the Trap Man by Sam Gibson A Light Through the Cracks by Beth Rodden Mountain & Adventure Heritage Award Unbound: Volume 1 by Rambo Estrada Look Out by Euan Macleod and Craig Potton Kahurangi by Dave Hansford The following were Highly Commended by the judges: Northbound: Four Seasons of Solitude on Te Araroa by Naomi Arnold Southern Faces: An Introduction to Rock Climbing in Ōtepoti Dunedin by Riley Smith Fire & Ice: Secrets, Histories, Treasures and Mysteries of Tongariro National Park by Hazel Phillips Ski Bum by Sam Masters The NZ Mountain Film & Book Festival will run in Wānaka from 20 to 24 June, in Queenstown 26 to 27 June, and films will be online in NZ and Australia throughout July. The festival's literary events include guest speakers, author readings, book signings and book launches.
Scoop
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Celebrating The Sublime: Look Out Wins 2025 NZ Mountain Book Of The Year
Press Release – NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival Lake Wānaka, New Zealand (23 May 2025) – Euan Macleod and Craig Potton have been selected as the winners of the 2025 Nankervis/Bamford NZ Mountain Book of the Year award for their book Look Out. The $2,000 grand prize is awarded in the NZ Mountain Book Competition as part of the long-running NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival. Look Out is an artistic collaboration that celebrates the sublimity of New Zealand's Southern Alps by these two well-known New Zealand artists. Two friends, painter Euan Macleod and photographer Craig Potton, are both drawn to the high mountains around Aoraki/Mt Cook in the central core of the Southern Alps of New Zealand. 'Here is a mountain art book that is not over-endowed with words though there is a long introductory essay to set the scene,' explains judge Marjorie Cook. The task for readers then is to observe and reflect on what stories could be revealed in mountain paintings (MacLeod) and photographs (Potton). Such is the subjective nature of art, there is unlikely to be just one story. One moment the mountains and the mountain men look murderously scary, deathly and cold. Next, they appear soft, warm and comfortable.' 'I thank the organisers of the NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival and am truly delighted and grateful Euan and I have won the Mountain Book of the Year with Look Out,' says Potton. He continues, 'We have both gotten more than we will ever know from the Southern Alps and even at our advanced ages we find ourselves at Aoraki, in the throne room of the mountain gods, with the same awe, amazement and joy of the sublime that we have felt from our first trips there so long ago. It was our hope that our art might convey something of that connection to the mountain wilderness and your nod to our book has vindicated that hope.' The overall prize for the Nankervis/Bamford NZ Mountain Book of the Year is awarded for a book that brings the mountain experience into the hearts and minds of the reader and leaves people with a knowledge of, and respect for, the place the mountains play in the human and physical worlds. Potton explains that the award has a special meaning for him. 'For me it is very special and poignant that this generous prize has been established as part of the wonderful legacy my friend Nank bequeathed to our mountaineering community. When first heading to the Southern Alps I was inspired by Nank and Dave Bamford's forays on the western side of the central Southern Alps when they were pushing up great original lines. In those days it was the epitome of wilderness climbing. Nank became a friend, opening my book launch and exhibition on my Nepal book and during my tenure on the Conservation Authority when he was serving on the Tongariro National Parks Board. We frequently talked conservation issues. He knew the Conservation Act inside out and had such a big heart for the places and people we were trying to protect …. a most likeable humorous and generous man … To have won this award in honour of Nank's legacy is a highlight in my publishing path.' The Mountain Book Competition covers literature on the world's remote places, expedition tales and stories about people and their adventures. Submissions were invited for two categories: Mountain and Adventure Narrative for stories and accounts about specific adventures (non-fiction); and Mountain and Adventure Heritage for guidebooks, coffee table or picture books, history books, analyses, reflections on culture, environments or ethics and advocacy. The Heritage Award goes to Kahurangi by Dave Hansford. The book is a celebration of the biodiversity of Kahurangi National Park, Northwest Nelson and Golden Bay. Energised by ancient, complex geology and a multitude of habitats, from vast beech stands to lush coastal rainforest, from sprawling ramparts of karst and marble to extensive wetlands and estuaries, this region holds the greatest variety of plants and animals in the country. 'Hansford is simply a wonderful natural history writer,' says Cook. 'His first sentence, his first scene – detailing a paleolithic orgy of creatures forever fossilised in the act of getting it on – is startling and memorable. Just a warning. This book is big, meaty, dense and packed with knowledge and great images and photos. You will not be able to romp through it in one sitting.' Hansford said, 'It's gratifying to hear that others see the same wonder, the same beauty, the same lessons in Kahurangi that I see. My heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped me tell this story; the scientists, the rangers, the volunteers, my publisher, my editor, my wife— but especially all those gifted photographers who crafted a sprawling wilderness into exquisite pixels.' Andrew Fagan takes out the Narrative Award for his book Swirly World: Lost at Sea. Known to many as the frontman of the iconic 1980s band The Mockers, Fagan has also carved a distinct path as a solo sailor and author. In 1994 he set the record for the smallest sailing boat to sail from New Zealand to Australia, and in 2007 his NZ circumnavigation via the subantarctic Auckland Islands set the record for the smallest sailing boat to have done so. Swirly World: Lost at Sea documents his harrowing experiences and the psychological challenges faced when confronting the vast, unpredictable power of the ocean. Judge Marjorie Cook describes the book as 'a love story to a boat not much bigger than a bathtub, in which Fagan attempts to circumnavigate the globe. In delivering this very enjoyable book, Fagan weaves together past and present sailing adventure stories while having another go at 'living the dream', this time on a potent ocean of doubts. Expect to find lyrical sentences, humour, self-depreciation, and attention to detail.' Fagan said he was 'totally flattered' by the award, describing it as an 'unexpected accolade!' He adds, 'I'm looking forward to discussing the pleasures and pains of solo offshore sailing at the festival.' Fagan and Hansford will be guest speakers at the NZ Mountain Book Festival in Wānaka in June. Before selecting the winners of the 2025 NZ Mountain Book competition, the judges had a difficult task narrowing the entries down to six finalists. Head judge Allan Uren said, 'The lineup has been a real pick n mix, from surfing, skiing, tramping, sailing, climbing, even a collection of guidebooks. Notable in its absence has been pure mountaineering books. Maybe it's becoming harder for mountaineering authors to come up with anything new to say or ways to get across the essence of mountaineering. Here's hoping that's not the case. 'Production values have also been high, with dazzling photography. Some of the book covers are things of such beauty that you'd want to display them as objects of art in their own right. 'Everybody always says it is difficult to pick a winner from such a high calibre of books and that is true of this year's collection. It's unfortunate that a prize can't be given to all the authors for the amount of passion and work that obviously goes into each, and every book judged. But it makes your spirit soar to know that there is such high standard of book being produced and the festival is there to give them wings.' The 2025 finalists were: Mountain & Adventure Narrative Award Swirly World: Lost at Sea by Andrew Fagan Sam the Trap Man by Sam Gibson A Light Through the Cracks by Beth Rodden Mountain & Adventure Heritage Award Unbound: Volume 1 by Rambo Estrada Look Out by Euan Macleod and Craig Potton Kahurangi by Dave Hansford The following were Highly Commended by the judges: Northbound: Four Seasons of Solitude on Te Araroa by Naomi Arnold Southern Faces: An Introduction to Rock Climbing in Ōtepoti Dunedin by Riley Smith Fire & Ice: Secrets, Histories, Treasures and Mysteries of Tongariro National Park by Hazel Phillips Ski Bum by Sam Masters The NZ Mountain Film & Book Festival will run in Wānaka from 20 to 24 June, in Queenstown 26 to 27 June, and films will be online in NZ and Australia throughout July. The festival's literary events include guest speakers, author readings, book signings and book launches. The full festival programme and tickets are available at
Scoop
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Celebrating The Sublime: Look Out Wins 2025 NZ Mountain Book Of The Year
Lake Wānaka, New Zealand (23 May 2025) – Euan Macleod and Craig Potton have been selected as the winners of the 2025 Nankervis/Bamford NZ Mountain Book of the Year award for their book Look Out. The $2,000 grand prize is awarded in the NZ Mountain Book Competition as part of the long-running NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival. Look Out is an artistic collaboration that celebrates the sublimity of New Zealand's Southern Alps by these two well-known New Zealand artists. Two friends, painter Euan Macleod and photographer Craig Potton, are both drawn to the high mountains around Aoraki/Mt Cook in the central core of the Southern Alps of New Zealand. 'Here is a mountain art book that is not over-endowed with words though there is a long introductory essay to set the scene,' explains judge Marjorie Cook. The task for readers then is to observe and reflect on what stories could be revealed in mountain paintings (MacLeod) and photographs (Potton). Such is the subjective nature of art, there is unlikely to be just one story. One moment the mountains and the mountain men look murderously scary, deathly and cold. Next, they appear soft, warm and comfortable.' 'I thank the organisers of the NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival and am truly delighted and grateful Euan and I have won the Mountain Book of the Year with Look Out,' says Potton. He continues, 'We have both gotten more than we will ever know from the Southern Alps and even at our advanced ages we find ourselves at Aoraki, in the throne room of the mountain gods, with the same awe, amazement and joy of the sublime that we have felt from our first trips there so long ago. It was our hope that our art might convey something of that connection to the mountain wilderness and your nod to our book has vindicated that hope.' The overall prize for the Nankervis/Bamford NZ Mountain Book of the Year is awarded for a book that brings the mountain experience into the hearts and minds of the reader and leaves people with a knowledge of, and respect for, the place the mountains play in the human and physical worlds. Potton explains that the award has a special meaning for him. 'For me it is very special and poignant that this generous prize has been established as part of the wonderful legacy my friend Nank bequeathed to our mountaineering community. When first heading to the Southern Alps I was inspired by Nank and Dave Bamford's forays on the western side of the central Southern Alps when they were pushing up great original lines. In those days it was the epitome of wilderness climbing. Nank became a friend, opening my book launch and exhibition on my Nepal book and during my tenure on the Conservation Authority when he was serving on the Tongariro National Parks Board. We frequently talked conservation issues. He knew the Conservation Act inside out and had such a big heart for the places and people we were trying to protect …. a most likeable humorous and generous man … To have won this award in honour of Nank's legacy is a highlight in my publishing path.' The Mountain Book Competition covers literature on the world's remote places, expedition tales and stories about people and their adventures. Submissions were invited for two categories: Mountain and Adventure Narrative for stories and accounts about specific adventures (non-fiction); and Mountain and Adventure Heritage for guidebooks, coffee table or picture books, history books, analyses, reflections on culture, environments or ethics and advocacy. The Heritage Award goes to Kahurangi by Dave Hansford. The book is a celebration of the biodiversity of Kahurangi National Park, Northwest Nelson and Golden Bay. Energised by ancient, complex geology and a multitude of habitats, from vast beech stands to lush coastal rainforest, from sprawling ramparts of karst and marble to extensive wetlands and estuaries, this region holds the greatest variety of plants and animals in the country. 'Hansford is simply a wonderful natural history writer,' says Cook. 'His first sentence, his first scene - detailing a paleolithic orgy of creatures forever fossilised in the act of getting it on - is startling and memorable. Just a warning. This book is big, meaty, dense and packed with knowledge and great images and photos. You will not be able to romp through it in one sitting.' Hansford said, 'It's gratifying to hear that others see the same wonder, the same beauty, the same lessons in Kahurangi that I see. My heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped me tell this story; the scientists, the rangers, the volunteers, my publisher, my editor, my wife— but especially all those gifted photographers who crafted a sprawling wilderness into exquisite pixels.' Andrew Fagan takes out the Narrative Award for his book Swirly World: Lost at Sea. Known to many as the frontman of the iconic 1980s band The Mockers, Fagan has also carved a distinct path as a solo sailor and author. In 1994 he set the record for the smallest sailing boat to sail from New Zealand to Australia, and in 2007 his NZ circumnavigation via the subantarctic Auckland Islands set the record for the smallest sailing boat to have done so. Swirly World: Lost at Sea documents his harrowing experiences and the psychological challenges faced when confronting the vast, unpredictable power of the ocean. Judge Marjorie Cook describes the book as 'a love story to a boat not much bigger than a bathtub, in which Fagan attempts to circumnavigate the globe. In delivering this very enjoyable book, Fagan weaves together past and present sailing adventure stories while having another go at "living the dream'', this time on a potent ocean of doubts. Expect to find lyrical sentences, humour, self-depreciation, and attention to detail.' Fagan said he was 'totally flattered' by the award, describing it as an 'unexpected accolade!' He adds, 'I'm looking forward to discussing the pleasures and pains of solo offshore sailing at the festival.' Fagan and Hansford will be guest speakers at the NZ Mountain Book Festival in Wānaka in June. Before selecting the winners of the 2025 NZ Mountain Book competition, the judges had a difficult task narrowing the entries down to six finalists. Head judge Allan Uren said, 'The lineup has been a real pick n mix, from surfing, skiing, tramping, sailing, climbing, even a collection of guidebooks. Notable in its absence has been pure mountaineering books. Maybe it's becoming harder for mountaineering authors to come up with anything new to say or ways to get across the essence of mountaineering. Here's hoping that's not the case. 'Production values have also been high, with dazzling photography. Some of the book covers are things of such beauty that you'd want to display them as objects of art in their own right. 'Everybody always says it is difficult to pick a winner from such a high calibre of books and that is true of this year's collection. It's unfortunate that a prize can't be given to all the authors for the amount of passion and work that obviously goes into each, and every book judged. But it makes your spirit soar to know that there is such high standard of book being produced and the festival is there to give them wings.' The 2025 finalists were: Mountain & Adventure Narrative Award Swirly World: Lost at Sea by Andrew Fagan Sam the Trap Man by Sam Gibson A Light Through the Cracks by Beth Rodden Mountain & Adventure Heritage Award Unbound: Volume 1 by Rambo Estrada Look Out by Euan Macleod and Craig Potton Kahurangi by Dave Hansford The following were Highly Commended by the judges: Northbound: Four Seasons of Solitude on Te Araroa by Naomi Arnold Southern Faces: An Introduction to Rock Climbing in Ōtepoti Dunedin by Riley Smith Fire & Ice: Secrets, Histories, Treasures and Mysteries of Tongariro National Park by Hazel Phillips Ski Bum by Sam Masters The NZ Mountain Film & Book Festival will run in Wānaka from 20 to 24 June, in Queenstown 26 to 27 June, and films will be online in NZ and Australia throughout July. The festival's literary events include guest speakers, author readings, book signings and book launches.
Scoop
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
23 Years Strong: NZ Mountain Film Festival Breaks Records And Celebrates Adventure
Lake Wānaka, New Zealand (20 May 2025) – The NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival has launched its 2025 programme and tickets go on sale today. The annual international film competition saw a record-breaking 294 entries—50 more than any previous year since the festival started in 2002. The final lineup features 64 award-winning and finalist films, including 18 by New Zealand filmmakers. Most will be making their New Zealand premiere while 15 are world premieres. The festival is on in Wānaka from 20 – 24 June and Queenstown from 26 – 27 June and the festival films will also be available to watch online in New Zealand and Australia from 1 - 31 July. Check out the full programmes here: Festival founder and head judge Mark Sedon sees the record-breaking number of film competition entries as confirmation that, after 23 years, the festival's reputation continues to grow in New Zealand and around the globe. As New Zealand's only adventure film competition, the NZMFF is also proud to provide a platform for Kiwi creatives to showcase their talents. Whitney Oliver, who has taken over as Festival Director this year, says, "It's fantastic to see returning filmmakers who consistently raise the bar year after year. We're also stoked to welcome new (to us) talent who have wowed us with fresh narratives and creative style. 'The NZ-made films showcase a wide variety of outdoor stories, from epic backyard missions to environmental causes, and each left a distinct impression. The filmmakers crafted their stories in such a way as to make me want to be a part of the adventure (Spirit of the West), feel like I was enduring the adventure (All in or Nothing), or be inspired to create my own adventure (Waiatoto). We can't wait to share these with audiences soon." Many of the New Zealand filmmakers will be at the festival to introduce their films during the Pure NZ sessions on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 June in Wānaka and Friday 28 June in Queenstown. Josh Morgan and Jasper Gibson are the winners of the prestigious Hiddleston/ MacQueen Award and $2500 prizemoney for the Best NZ-made Film for their entry, Waiatoto. The film tells the story of a traverse across the Southern Alps through packraft, skis and tramping. Starting at the Matukituki, the route went via Tititea, the Volta Glacier, and the Waiatoto, to the Tasman Sea. Nick Pascoe, one of the three adventurers involved in the journey with Gibson and Charlie Murray, will also be a keynote speaker at this year's festival. "We're honoured if not a bit surprised to win this award,' says Pascoe. 'We didn't set out to make a film, the focus was on a creative adventure through an incredible corner of the country simply for the sake of it. During the expedition it was one step at a time problem solving, with no setups for filming. It's testament to the creative photo, film, and editing skills of Jasper and Josh that this film has come to life and been received so well." Charlie Murray adds, 'I love watching this film back, a view into a trip where we found inspiration from each other and Aotearoa's magical Southern Alps. 'Stemming from an idea that Pascoe had been scheming and once shared with me became my burden too. Just enough 'what ifs' to make it scary and challenging. With enough 'wow we're lucky' to make it special. Throwing in a GoPro for good measure and Jasper with his camera, the three of us managed to accidentally document what is a proud accomplishment for us.' The film competition Grand Prize was awarded to US director Leo Hoorn for his film, Trango. After a two-year attempt, a team of ski mountaineers, including previous NZMFF guest speaker Christina Lustenberger (USA), ski the first descent of the Great Trango Glacier in Pakistan. They navigate risk, grapple with grief, and face physical danger as they push the limits of human experience. Unspoken trust and support within their expedition team allows them to face the unimaginable together. The Trango film team say they are 'incredibly honoured to be selected for NZ Mountain Film Festival's Grand Prize Award this year. This film, much like the festival itself, embodies the spirit of pushing boundaries and overcoming the seemingly impossible. We are profoundly grateful to be among such an esteemed list of remarkable films in accepting this award." The full list of award winners is as follows: Grand Prize Trango, Director: Leo Hoorn, USA Best Short Film Award Body of a Line, Director: Henna Taylor, USA. A cleverly animated short film that morphs into real life as Madaleine undertakes an intimate and creative journey to climb a difficult rock route. Featuring original music and poetry. Best Mountain Culture Award Everest Dark, Director: Jereme Watt, USA. As the death toll on the world's highest peak rises, one of Nepal's most legendary climbers leads an elite team of Sherpas on a life-threatening mission to retrieve fallen climbers from Everest's Death Zone. Award for the Best Film on the Environment Footprints on Katmai, Director: Max Romey, USA. Following his grandmother's footsteps to one of the most remote and bear-strewn beaches in Alaska, painter Max Romey discovers that an ocean of problems is closer to home than he could have imagined. Best Climbing Film Nose Job, Director: Alastair Lee, UK. Two young, retired comp climbers with little trad or multi-pitch experience attempt a bold feat: becoming the first Britons to free climb The Nose on El Cap. First done by Lynn Hill in 1993, it's had only eight free ascents since. The odds? As massive as the wall itself. Best Snow Sports Film Painting The Mountains, Director: Pierre Cadot, France. Follow a photographer's love affair with El Chaltén, a remote Patagonian village beneath Fitz Roy. There, a tight-knit ski community embraces the mountains' raw beauty and danger. When three French skiers arrive to pioneer new lines, he documents their daring descents—where climbing ropes give way to ski tracks. Blending photography, journalism, and extreme skiing, the film captures a rare culture shaped by weather, granite, and passion. Best Film on Adventurous Sports & Lifestyles Alone Across Gola, Director: Jude Kriwald, UK. Stranded in Liberia's Gola rainforest, filmmaker Jude Kriwald faces hunger, isolation, robbery and disappearing trails. A raw tale of one man's solo, self-filmed journey chasing a childhood dream. With only a bike and a tent, Jude pushes the limits of survival and self-discovery. Solo Award Far Enough, Director: Julien Carot, France. A 22-year-old Frenchman gets on his bike in Chamonix to ride to Nepal's Khumbu Valley to climb Ama Dablam. That's 11,500 kilometres on a bike and 80,000m of elevation gain. The real adventure isn't just about reaching the summit— but everything it takes to get there. Special Jury Awards Girl Climber, Director: Jon Glassberg, USA. Emily Harrington, pro climber and Everest summiteer, takes on her boldest goal yet: a 24-hour free climbing ascent of El Cap. In a male-dominated sport, she battles ambition, risk, and time. Girl Climber is a gripping survival story and powerful portrait of breaking barriers—and proving she's one of the best. The Headless Horseman, Director: Andy Collet, France. In the shadow of Gyachung Kang, far from the fame of 8,000-metre peaks, two climbers confront hardship, separation, and doubt. Through illness and storms, they rediscover the true spirit of alpinism—friendship, resilience, and beauty in the unexpected. A poetic ascent into the heart of what truly matters. NZ Award Winners: Hiddleston/MacQueen Award for Best NZ-Made Film Waiatoto, Directors: Josh Morgan & Jasper Gibson. This film tells the story of a traverse across the Southern Alps through packraft, skis and tramping. Starting at the Matukituki, the route went via Tititea, the Volta Glacier, and the Waiatoto, to the Tasman Sea. Community Spirit Award Spirit of the West, Director: Pedro Pimentel. Set against New Zealand's wild West Coast, this film captures the spirit of the Old Ghost Ultra—where community, resilience, and grit collide in a transformative celebration of people and place. Grassroots Award The Long Way Round, Director: Mitchell Radford. A massive 16-day solo adventure through Fiordland from Glenorchy to Milford Sound, the long way. This film showcases exploration and endurance in some of New Zealand's most incredible and diverse landscapes. Best Documentary Award All in or Nothing, Director: Gordon Duff. Up against 120 riders with full support crews, young athlete Matthew Fairbrother only has himself to rely on. Follow his gruelling six days as he attempts to win the overall title at the NZ MTB Rally. Festival Spirit Award Riverbound - The Storybook Has Just Begun, Directors: Dylan Gerschwitz & Deane Parker. Yak, a former pro kayaker now paraplegic, takes on Class 3 rapids in the Upper Buller Gorge. Can packrafting restore his freedom—and redefine who gets to run wild rivers? Find the full list of this year's films here: Programmes will also be available at Paper Plus in Wanaka or The North Face Store at 38 Shotover Street in Queenstown. The NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival will run in Wānaka from 20 – 24 June and in Queenstown from 26 – 27 June. The festival films will also be available to watch online in New Zealand and Australia from 1 - 31 July.
