Awards
We work incredibly hard at ShAFF to make sure that we have the best selection of adventure films we possibly can.
We announce the winners ahead of the festival to allow the audience to make sure they see the best films of the year and decide whether they agree with our judges.
Awards - We have a panel of judges who view all films screened at ShAFF and declare winners and runners up in each of the following categories:
Best Film - All films are automatically eligible.
UIAA Best Climbing Film - Climbing, mountaineering, bouldering, indoor climbing - all types of climbing
Best Bike Film - Road, Mountain, Bike Packing, BMX - all types of biking
Best Running Film - Running, racing, jogging, orienteering - all types of running
Best Ski & Board Film - Skiing, boarding, back country - all types of snow sports
Best Spirit Of Adventure Film - The essence of what ShAFF is about: stepping way outside of the usual comfort zones, being out there on a limb, totally committed.
Best Artistic Film - To recognise cinematic creativity.
Best Short Film - All films under 10 minutes long automatically considered
Best Soundtrack - To recognise the best overall sound experience in a film.
Best Women In Adventure Film - To recognise the best film made by or featuring women in a lead role.
Best Film Made In Sheffield - To recognise the growing talent of The Outdoor City.
Street Food Chef People's Choice as voted by Boom Beam
Either £100 will be awarded to the winning film in each category, with £200 to the Best Film winner.
There is also a Judges Special Prize
Details on film submission are available here
You can see which films won awards in previous years in our archive.
Best Film
Our Grand Prize
Northbound
Ice, driftwood, foamy waves and ... skateboards? In this poetic short film, four skaters head north to the cold Norwegian coast, applying their urban skills to a wild canvas of beach flotsam, frozen sand and pastel skies. The result is a beautiful mashup — biting winds and short days, ollies and one ephemeral miniramp.
The Accord
The reality of growing up a surfer in Iceland is different from anywhere else in the world. It’s a harsh place. There are no surf shops, guidebooks or webcams. But being so far removed from the hustle and bustle of the known surf world hardens Iceland’s surfers to confront the issue they all must face: the North Atlantic wind.
Follow Heiðar Logi Elíasson on his journey through Iceland searching for that rare, yet significant, compromise that brings both Icelandic surfers and the North Atlantic wind to the table. The Accord’s world premiere will be at the Telluride Mountainfilm Festival May 28. Go to theaccordfilm.com for more information.
Dodo's Delight
Jump on board a madcap sailing adventure to the biggest rock walls in the Arctic Circle with a team of elite climbers as zany as they are talented. Sean Villanueva, Nico Favresse, Olivier Favresse and Ben Ditto have made cutting edge first ascents in remote mountain ranges around the world -- climbing hard, making music and goofing off thousands of feet in the air. Now they embark on their greatest expedition yet, voyaging to the massive walls of Greenland and Baffin Island on the good ship Dodo’s Delight, skippered by the spry 79-year old Captain Bob Shepton. Amongst rough seas, falling rocks and freezing temperatures, this hilarious and badass gang of adventurers forge bold new routes and have the time of their lives.
Best Artistic Film
Best Artistic Film
What If You Fly
Hawaiian artist and muralist Sean Yoro (a.k.a. HULA)travels to the arctic waters of Baffin Island, Nunavut, to paint a portrait of a local Inuit woman on the sea ice. This is the most technical and remote location that Sean has ever attempted a mural, and the wild forces of nature at the top of the world are unpredictable. But for Sean, the physical and creative risks are worth it for a chance at something new.
The Accord
The reality of growing up a surfer in Iceland is different from anywhere else in the world. It’s a harsh place. There are no surf shops, guidebooks or webcams. But being so far removed from the hustle and bustle of the known surf world hardens Iceland’s surfers to confront the issue they all must face: the North Atlantic wind.
Follow Heiðar Logi Elíasson on his journey through Iceland searching for that rare, yet significant, compromise that brings both Icelandic surfers and the North Atlantic wind to the table. The Accord’s world premiere will be at the Telluride Mountainfilm Festival May 28. Go to theaccordfilm.com for more information.
Ruin & Rose
A surreal future leaves the world without water and consumed by sand: the Big Empty. A group of children survives alone on the edge of the endless desert in the ruin of the now. When a young boy unearths an ancient relic hinting at the lost wonders of winter, he sets off in search of the ghosts that once called the mountains their home. This bold cinematic experience balances stunning skiing with a wild and hopeful journey into the forgotten lands of myth and magic beyond the Empty.
Best Biking Film
Best Bike Film
Tom Seipp - A Mountain Journal Short
Tom is 11 and just loves riding his bikes with his dad, no matter what the terrain, no matter what the weather. Having completed 2 Strathpuffer 24hr races he has racked up the miles over the last few years. Driven to just enjoy being out, he has big plans as he looks to drag his dad along the 2,700+ miles of the Great Divide route later in the year.
Danny McAskill's Wee Day Out
Want to see what Danny MacAskill does on his day off? "Wee Day Out" explores the rural landscape around Scotland in a film that sets out to capture the simple fun of a ride in the country with moments of incredible riding and a touch of humor.
DreamRide
Enter a dream world where the trails never end. Where the promise of joy and freedom exist around each bend. Take a magical trip through beautiful landscapes and join us on this DreamRide
Dodo's Delight
Jump on board a madcap sailing adventure to the biggest rock walls in the Arctic Circle with a team of elite climbers as zany as they are talented. Sean Villanueva, Nico Favresse, Olivier Favresse and Ben Ditto have made cutting edge first ascents in remote mountain ranges around the world -- climbing hard, making music and goofing off thousands of feet in the air. Now they embark on their greatest expedition yet, voyaging to the massive walls of Greenland and Baffin Island on the good ship Dodo’s Delight, skippered by the spry 79-year old Captain Bob Shepton. Amongst rough seas, falling rocks and freezing temperatures, this hilarious and badass gang of adventurers forge bold new routes and have the time of their lives.
Jurek
"Jurek" tells a story of Jerzy "Jurek" Kukuczka's rise from a poor climber in communist Poland to the top of mountaineering history. Through interviews with family, friends and partner climbers as well as rich archival footage we get to meet not only a great climber, but an ordinary, imperfect man, husband and father.
Down to Nothing
This harrowing expedition pushed a group of mountaineers to the mental and physical brink; carving them Down To Nothing.
Best Made in Sheffield Film
First awarded in 2015 to reflect the increasing quality and quantity of films being made in and around Sheffield and/or featuring local athletes.
The Bothy Project
The Bothy Project is about exploring the wilds on your own terms, in your own style.
Devotion: Libby Peter
Devotion explores what it means to live a life slightly less ordinary, and how climbing has shaped the life of one of the UK's most respected climbers.
Low Line
Sheffield wakeboarders braved the waters and the tunnels under the city of Sheffield.
Best Running Film
Best Running Film
Run Forever
Nicky Spinks is a beef farmer from Yorkshire and one of the UK's best fell runners. In 2006, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, turning her world upside down. 'Run Forever' looks at Nicky's inspirational life and her record breaking attempt of a double Bob Graham Round in the Lake District; a 132 mile route, with 54000ft of ascent, that only one person has completed in under 48 hours.
Outside Voices
It's time to get to know Jenn Shelton, one of the most outspoken voices in running.
Cape Wrath Ultra
Starting in Fort William, the Cape Wrath Ultra™ is a once in a lifetime, 8-day expedition race weaving 400km through the Highlands of Scotland. It takes competitors on an incredible journey linking ancient footpaths and remote tracks to the furthest northwesterly point of the British Isles, Cape Wrath. With towering mountains on one side and the crashing ocean on the other, the Cape Wrath Ultra™ travels through stunning scenery and remote wilderness with every step north.
Best Short Film
Best Short Film
Max Your Days
The Solstice is here, and you know what that means — mother nature is open late and looking to party. So go forth and get filthy, breathe heavy, and for the love of all that’s holy, squeeze the day till it pushes back. Max your days.
The Man And The Sea
Free one's board from fins, and free one's self - the philosophy of one of Australia's great authentic surfers.
Last Call For Mr Paul
Ever been late for a flight? Jason Paul uses his jaw-dropping freerunning skills to get through security at the Munich airport to catch his flight in record time.
Best Ski & Board Film
Best Ski & Board Film
Iran: A Skier's Journey
“Should we go?” Chad Sayers and Forrest Coots decide, indeed, they should. Upon arriving in Iran, they are welcomed with profound warmth, stunned by the immense beauty of the landscape and culture.
The Great Siberian Traverse
The Great Siberian Traverse documents a 6,000-mile ski journey through Russia, along the Trans-Siberian Railway.
China: A Skier's Journey
Skiing as sport is in its infancy in China, a phenomenon of the country’s exploding middle class. As a means of survival however, it is thousands of years old, a stone age hunter-gatherer technology born in the Altai mountains where China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Siberia merge. On a vast trajectory that spans 11,000km of Northern China, Chad Sayers and Forrest Coots touch down into the rich past and dizzying future of these two respective Chinese ski cultures. As one rapidly expands, they find the other is at risk of disappearing.
Best Soundtrack
A new award created in 2015, judged by Sheffield DJ and producer Paul Hodgson, aka Grievous Angel.
Northbound
Ice, driftwood, foamy waves and ... skateboards? In this poetic short film, four skaters head north to the cold Norwegian coast, applying their urban skills to a wild canvas of beach flotsam, frozen sand and pastel skies. The result is a beautiful mashup — biting winds and short days, ollies and one ephemeral miniramp.
Metronomic
The meeting of the Flying Frenchies stuntmen crew, the Compagnie 9.81 air dancers, musicians from the band Radio Monkey and the Baraka Flims team.
The Great Siberian Traverse
The Great Siberian Traverse documents a 6,000-mile ski journey through Russia, along the Trans-Siberian Railway.
Best Spirit of Adventure Film
Best Spirit Of Adventure Film
North of Known
Professional paragliders and adventurers Gavin McClurg and Dave Turner attempt a full, unsupported traverse of the Alaska Range by foot and paraglider, across North Americas highest mountains. The team faces endless extreme weather, starvation, grizzly bears, uncrossable rivers and countless glaciers in one of the world most remote and inhospitable mountain ranges.
Mohon
In the spring of 2016 Jimmy Hyland headed to Mongolia. Armed with little more than a £50 bike he set out to find adventure.
Locked In
Deep in Papua New Guinea’s virgin rainforest, a team of kayakers attempt the first descent of the Beriman River. Sheer canyon walls rising 1500 meters from river level, no escape and rising water levels push Ben Stookesberry and team to the bitter edge in a 13-day descent from high in the Nakani Mountains to the Solomon Sea. Battling moral and physical exhaustion, one thing keeps pulling the team deeper. The only way out is down.
Best Women In Adventure Film
Created in 2015 to reflect our drive to encourage more female producers, directors and featured athletes on the big screen.
Afterglow
Short documentary about artist,photographer and outdoor swimmer Vivienne Rickman Poole.
The Bothy Project
The Bothy Project is about exploring the wilds on your own terms, in your own style.
Silvana Lima - BBC Winners
Silvana is the best female surfer in Brazil. But being the best isn’t everything. Told she wasn’t beautiful enough, it wasn’t until just last year (2015) she got the sponsorship she needed – 13 years into her sporting career.
People's Choice Award
Sponsored by Street Food Chef
Launched at ShAFF 2015, powered by Boom Beam, our interactive, live voting system allows the audience to have their say on which films they loved the most.
Four Mums And A Boat
The incredible true story of four ordinary working mums from Yorkshire who took on an extraordinary challenge and broke a world record along the way
Dodo's Delight
Jump on board a madcap sailing adventure to the biggest rock walls in the Arctic Circle with a team of elite climbers as zany as they are talented. Sean Villanueva, Nico Favresse, Olivier Favresse and Ben Ditto have made cutting edge first ascents in remote mountain ranges around the world -- climbing hard, making music and goofing off thousands of feet in the air. Now they embark on their greatest expedition yet, voyaging to the massive walls of Greenland and Baffin Island on the good ship Dodo’s Delight, skippered by the spry 79-year old Captain Bob Shepton. Amongst rough seas, falling rocks and freezing temperatures, this hilarious and badass gang of adventurers forge bold new routes and have the time of their lives.
The Hard Way
The Hard Way is the inspirational story of Bob Hayes, an 89-year-old who runs 30 races each year, cuts his firewood by hand and does things the hard way to remain active and alive. The Hard Way follows Bob as he trains for the Bighorn 50k ultramarathon. As Bob pushes 90, longer races take a larger toll. How will Bob’s cadence of hard work and intention help him navigate the challenges of aging? The film takes us on a journey that’s about more than running, it teaches us to live life with purpose and momentum.