14th World Congress On Mountain Medicine

10 Years of CAC

10 years of Climbing Against Cancer

John Ellison knew he was dying of cancer. But he wasn't going to take it lying down. He had a vision, that the climbing community would unite around a common cause, to raise funds for research and awareness about cancer. We lost John along the way (Dec 27, 2015) but his vision came about and is still going strong 10 years on. This is our story... so far. Archive footage and images - Lukasz Larsson Warzecha, https://www.lwimages.com/

Adapt

Recovering from a spinal cord injury can feel like climbing a mountain.

Adapt follows the story of three incredible people as they battle to find a new way to live with disability, and with the help of adapted outdoor gear from Berghaus, begin to measure themselves in nature again.

Alpha

Three young men with life changing spinal cord injuries attempt to cross Vatnajokull, the largest ice cap in Western Europe.

This 30-minute documentary follows Ed Jackson, Niall McCann, and Darren Edwards — three men with life-changing spinal cord injuries — as they attempt to cross Vatnajökull, the largest ice cap in Western Europe. A 150km traverse across crevasse fields, shifting ice, and whiteouts — without guides, support, or safety crews. Linked by one rope and powered by sheer determination, they redefine what strength, teamwork, and courage truly mean. To make this expedition possible, Berghaus adapted their kit through our Berghaus Adapts programme — customising technical gear to meet the physical and environmental challenges of this journey. Through Alpha, we explore what it means to face adversity head-on, to rebuild identity after loss, and to make the outdoors a space for everyone. Director - Matt Pycroft Producer - Harriet Sykes Editor - Halcyon Post (Jen Randall & Tim Symes) Camera Operators - Toby Roney, Josh Raper and Matthew Hardy Production Safety - Dan Saulite

Anna

Anna intimately chronicles North Face mountaineer Anna Pfaff's transformative journey after losing six toes to frostbite in Alaska.

Anna is an intimate, unflinching portrait of North Face mountaineer Anna Pfaff as she grapples with the aftermath of a life-altering frostbite injury in Alaska, which led to the amputation of six of her toes. This adventure documentary doesn’t just follow her physical recovery—it explores the profound evolution of her character, the painful yet powerful journey toward acceptance, and the metamorphosis of both body and spirit. With the steadfast support of her partner, Andres Marin, Anna faces the raw reality of her transformation, learning to adapt and move forward in ways she never imagined. Anna is more than a story of survival; it’s a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, the strength to embrace change, and the courage to keep climbing—no matter the obstacles. A breathtaking exploration of recovery, reinvention, and the limitless power of movement.

Best Day Ever

A film about freedom, friendship, and the power of possibility.

Such a powerhouse of a film showcasing the incredible impact of adaptive cycling, trails and community. I could watch this film all over again immediately. One certainly not to be missed!

Frit Tam

Beautifully shot film in all aspects - the nature close ups, panoramas, action cycling, faces and groups, casual and posed. All really creative. Tugged me emotionally from start to finish.

Simon Taylor

I really love this film! It has all the vibes of a great mountain biking film and more.

Hannah Maia

Best Day Ever is a film about community, freedom, friendship and the power of possibility. Inspired by the over 200 volunteers who put in nearly 6000 hours building the world's first fully adaptive trail network, it follows the stories of Greg Durso and Allie Bianchi, both adaptive mountain bikers. This isn't a hero story, and it's not about the difficulty of living with a disability. Best Day Ever tells a powerful and emotional tale about community and the power of inclusive recreation. At the Driving Range trails in Bolton, Vermont, the community created opportunity for Greg and Allie and other adaptive riders. When everyone was able to ride together, it dismantled the preconceptions and prejudices a lot of us didn’t realize we had. The Best Day Ever documentary raises awareness and reshapes how people view and connect with athletes with disabilities. We're leveraging it to change the culture of recreation by building more inclusive trails where everyone can ride together, and by providing adaptive sports equipment so more people with disabilities can get out on the trails.

Body Of Water

Swimming Scotland’s lochs and rivers to better her mental wellbeing, Theodora van Duin has developed a unique ritual in synergy with water.

The film follows Dutch-Canadian photographer Theodora van Duin who, having grown up swimming in the Canadian Rockies, has transferred her aquatic explorations to the lochs and rivers near her home in Glasgow. Exploring Scotland's influence on Theodora’s relationship with water, Body of Water hones in on her year-round search for swimming locations, and how the inclusivity of the cold water swimming community enabled her to transcend her insecurities. Succumbing to the changeability of the elements and the emotions that arise within her, she finds herself able to be present in her own body, surrounded by the wildness of nature.

Sustainability Notes: 

From a production point of view, we kept the footprint of the shoot intentionally small. The crew consisted of just three people travelling from London, who then carpooled with the protagonist to reach the Highlands. By car-pooling rather than using multiple vehicles, and by limiting the crew size and equipment, we reduced unnecessary travel and energy use. The shoot took place over only two days, helping to minimise accommodation, transport and resource consumption. We filmed in a familiar outdoor location close to the protagonist’s home, avoiding the need to build sets or alter the environment in any way. Throughout the shoot we followed a strict leave-no-trace approach, cleaning up after ourselves and leaving the landscape exactly as we found it.

Free summits

A youth worker and mountain enthusiast invites young people from underprivileged neighborhoods to explore a world that feels foreign to them: Alpine peaks.

In "Free Summits" Ulrich Ndjike, a youth worker and mountain enthusiast, invites young people from underprivileged neighborhoods to explore a world that feels completely foreign to them: the Alpine peaks. For these youth, the idea of climbing a mountain is a challenge that seems as distant as Mont Blanc on the horizon. With the support of the Club Outdoor Alpin, Ulrich Ndjike encourages them to break social barriers, guides them through this adventure, pushes them to persevere despite their doubts, and offers them a unique experience of freedom, resilience, and self-transcendence. “Free Summits" explores the profound impact one individual can have on their community, the power of passing on a passion, the bonds that are formed, and the personal transformation that outdoor sports bring to each of them.

Sustainability Notes:

The movie is film in France, next to Annecy. The carbon imprint is very low as everyone involved leave in the neighborhood next door, in Seynod. As trail running & hiking are the primary subject of the movie, and the kids are coming from the town next door to climb mountains in their "backyard", not much transportation was involved in the making of the movie, which make it a very sustainable one :) It's also a social movie, more about the social impact than the performance - the idea is to show that the mountain is for everyone, especially when you live nearby, but just never had the chance to be brought to it. 

Ian

IAN is a powerful short film about defying age, chasing passion, and rewriting what’s possible.

IAN is a powerful short film about defying age, chasing passion, and rewriting what’s possible.

In a world that tells us to slow down, 72-year-old Australian Ian Elliott proves it’s never too late to send your hardest route. At nearly 70, he climbs Grade 28 (5.13a) — a feat few ever achieve — and shows us what relentless determination looks like.

IAN is an award-winning Australian climbing film about resilience, aging boldly, and living life on your terms.

Le moulin des artistes - a home for free spirits

Le moulin des artistes - a home for free spirits

Some people make a living from their craft. Others can’t live without it. In a 16th century mill in the Chamonix valley, Peter and Anati run Le Moulin des Artistes: a ski workshop, art space, and gathering place for like-minded free spirits. Whether it’s in Peter’s handmade wooden skis or Anati’s paintings and music, Le Moulin des Artistes shows us what happens when you devote your life to creative expression. How it can bring purpose, build lasting community, and even help overcome disaster.

Liminal

Liminal is an intimate portrait of Jude Palmer, exploring how wild swimming became a lifeline during her struggle with severe mental ill health.

After experiencing a profound mental health crisis, Jude Palmer found herself at the edge - disconnected from her body, her sense of self, and the world around her. Liminal explores the quiet, transformative role that wild swimming played in her journey through illness and toward healing. Set across rivers, lakes, and the ocean, the film reflects on the threshold moments - the liminal spaces - between land and water, isolation and connection, survival and renewal. Through Jude’s personal story, Liminal examines how immersion in cold, natural environments can ground the mind, restore presence, and offer moments of calm when everything else feels overwhelming. Now, Jude helps others find their own way into the water, creating safe spaces for people to experience the physical and emotional benefits of swimming outdoors. Liminal is a gentle, honest meditation on vulnerability, resilience, and the healing potential of being in wild places.

Love Notes to Nature

While out adventuring, writer Dal Kular explores how reconnecting with nature can be a powerful act of healing and resistance.

Love Notes to Nature follows writer Dal Kular as she reflects on her relationship to land and the natural world, weaving themes of ancestry, displacement, and belonging. As a woman of Punjabi heritage born in the UK, Dal explores how inherited histories of migration have shaped her connection to nature, and how reclaiming that connection can be an act of healing and resistance. The short documentary was commissioned by Sheffield DocFest as part of the Filmmaker Challenge 2025, filmed in a single day around Sheffield and Stanage Edge and edited in another. A winner of Best Film at the British Mountaineering Council's Women in Adventure film competition 2025, Love Notes to Nature proves that adventure can be gentle, heart-led, and close to home.

Sustainability Notes:

This film, shot in a single day, had a very minimal carbon footprint. One car was used to drive the crew and all the equipment to the first location (the allotment) and then we all carpooled in the same car, including the contributor, to Stanage Edge. There was no further use of motor vehicles. I think thematically, the film encourages people to seek adventure close to where they live, which is more sustainable behaviour than travelling far to seek adventure. 

Old Friends

Publisher Jon Barton revisits the climb that broke his leg 40 years ago and discusses the re-release of Extreme Rock

Join Jon Barton of Vertebrate Publishing as he returns to Old Friends (E4 6a) at Stanage — a route with a deeply personal history following an accident 40 years ago. This time, he’s back on the grit to mark the release of the new edition of the cult classic Extreme Rock, compiled by Grant Farquhar. Jon discusses the influence of the original Extreme Rock by Ken Wilson and Bernard Newman, and reflects on the legacy of one of his heroes, John Allen, whose bold routes helped shape his passion for climbing.

Sustainability Notes:

There is no explicit call to action about sustainability in the film, but as I always try to do, any filming at the crag was done with the mindset of leaving no trace and respecting the area. No unnecessary resources were used, and car lifts were shared.

The Art of Bea-ing

A story of autism, resilience, and cold water therapy

The Art of Bea-ing is an intimate and reflective short documentary that follows Bea, a woman in her forties who discovered she was autistic later in life. After receiving her diagnosis at 40, Bea found solace and strength not in traditional therapy, but in the icy embrace of open water. Through her ritual of cold-water swimming, Bea reconnects with herself, her body, and the natural world in a way that feels grounding, empowering, and deeply human. Set against the raw beauty of Sheffield’s wild waters, the film captures both the physical challenge and emotional stillness that come with immersion. It offers an honest, tender portrayal of what it means to find healing outside conventional boundaries — showing that therapy can take many forms, and that nature often provides what words cannot. Directed and filmed by Sheffield-based videographer Jamie Schofield, The Art of Bea-ing grew from a passion for documenting real stories that challenge perceptions of ability and resilience. With a small, dedicated team, the project was created to highlight the transformative power of cold-water swimming — not only as a personal therapy, but as a universal reminder that peace, purpose, and strength can be found in the most unexpected places. Through Bea’s quiet courage, the film aims to inspire others to see beyond labels and limitations, and to celebrate the profound connection between human vulnerability and the natural world.

Sustainability Notes:

"The Art of Bea-ing was created with a deep respect for both people and the natural environments that feature in the film. The project was produced on a very small scale — a minimal crew, lightweight camera setup, and entirely on-location shooting in local natural settings. This approach drastically reduced the carbon footprint of production: there were no large transport requirements, artificial lighting rigs, or energy-heavy studio setups. All travel was done locally within the UK, often on foot or by shared transport, keeping the process as low-impact as possible.

Beyond production practices, the film’s subject inherently promotes a sustainable relationship with the environment. Bea’s story takes place in natural, wild bodies of water — spaces that remind us of the importance of preservation and connection with the natural world. Her relationship with cold-water swimming is built on respect, not consumption; it’s about being present in nature, not taking from it.

While The Art of Bea-ing isn’t a direct environmental campaign, it carries a subtle but important call to action: to find wellbeing through connection rather than consumption, and to appreciate the restorative power of the natural world. The film encourages viewers to engage with nature mindfully, fostering empathy for both people and the planet.

As a Sheffield-based filmmaker, I’m committed to sustainable production practices — keeping equipment local, minimising waste, and telling stories that inspire positive change without unnecessary environmental cost."

The Oldest Munro Bagger

An inspiring story of resilience, hope and love for the mountains.

It’s wonderful to be taken on Nick’s journey having followed his social media whilst bagging the munros, and to hear so much about the touching reasons behind the challenge.

Frit Tam

Such a beautiful and delicate film. The film makers have managed to echo Nick's speed of living and thoughtfulness. He is more than inspirational. His personal characteristics are the complete antithesis of the ego-maniacal leaders we have in the world.

Simon Taylor

Filmed over four years, The Oldest Munro Bagger follows 80 year-old Nick Gardner as he attempts to complete all 282 of Scotland's Munros in the wake of his beloved wife's dementia diagnosis. An uplifting story of resilience, hope and love for the mountains, it documents the emotional highs & lows, and the physical & psychological challenges he encounters along the way. A moving, authentic story of enduring love and growth, told against the breathtaking backdrop of the Scottish Highlands.

Sustainability Notes:

The making of the film had an incredibly small footprint, primarily filmed as a solo production. While car transport was required due to the remoteness of the locations, journeys were shared where possible. It was an entirely self funded film so by necessity it was small scale/small footprint.

Three Wheeled Drive

Three disabled cyclists attempt to get to a remote Scottish bothy

THREE WHEEL DRIVE is an inspiring film about three ordinary physically disabled cyclists: Neil, John, and Caroline. They embark on an extraordinary journey to reach and stay in a remote bothy in the Highlands of Scotland, overcoming hardcore challenges on the route. The film demonstrates how, through planning and determination, they conquer their fears and anxiety, venturing into the hills to do something that is relatively ordinary for most but extraordinary for people with physical disabilities. For individuals with complex needs, bothies present real challenges, yet the team illustrates how one can surmount these obstacles with careful consideration and a can-do attitude. The film delves into genuine emotions, portraying Caroline's overwhelming joy at seeing the Scottish mountains again after 23 years, following her disability caused by a virus. The exhilaration of being amidst the hills and embracing the physical challenge leads John to momentarily forget about the pain and hurdles he's faced since his cycling accident four years prior. Neil, an inspiring leader, finds himself overwhelmed by the opportunity to explore the hills with like-minded friends, an experience he thought he would never encounter due to his spina bifida since birth. Their journey isn't just about conquering the challenges of the bothy; it encompasses the physical trials along the journey and the hazards they encounter en route. A film by Morrocco Media on behalf of the Adaptive Rider Collective.

Why I Fly

Dive into Jean-Baptiste Chandelier’s dreamlike world, where a single leap lays him bare and reveals why he flies

Dive into Jean-Baptiste Chandelier’s dreamlike world, where a single leap lays him bare and reveals why he flies