Sheffield Adventure Film Festival picks for KE Adventure Travel

Mira

The journey of a spirited Nepali village girl on her pursuit to being a world-recognised mountain runner.

'Mira' follows the journey of a spirited Nepali village girl on her pursuit to being a world-recognised mountain runner. Growing up in a remote mountain village in Nepal, Mira always dreamed of being successful in sport despite all the challenges that she & other Nepali girls face. After running away from home, Mira joined the Maoist army until as a young adult, she travelled the long distance to Kathmandu to try her luck. Out of money, she was about to return home to her village, when by chance on a morning run, she meets another runner who tells her about a long running race in the local hills. She wins it and soon begins to realise her tough mountain village upbringing has prepared her perfectly for this sport.

This inspirational story, filmed across Nepal, Hong Kong, Australia, Spain, Italy & France tells the story of Mira’s journey in the face of adversity to compete against the world's best mountain runners.

Kayaking the Aleutians

Sea kayaking the length of the remote Aleutian Islands. Amazing Journey.

No-one has succeeded in kayaking the length of the remote and stormy Aleutian Islands which stretch from Russia to Alaska. Explorers Justine Curgenven and Sarah Outen set out to paddle 2,500km along the archipelago to the nearest road confronting more than 20 long crossings which separate the tiny unpopulated islands. Sarah faces an even more formidable challenge as this is part of her round-the-world human powered journey and she has limited kayaking experience. Alone for 101 days in one of the windiest, roughest places on earth, these two women are swept away from land by unknown currents, pounded by rough seas and approached by bears. Experiencing an edge-of-your-seat journey, they gain a rare insight into themselves, the rich wildlife and the lives of the few people who live in this harsh yet beautiful landscape.

Stumped

“I don’t want to be known as just a one-armed climber,” says Maureen Beck, “I just want to be a good climber.”

Ok I'm going to put my hands up 👐 and say that I do find this incredibly inspiring. But then again anyone pushing hard is inspiring. Oh and its hilarious.

Ed Birch Director of Salt-Street productions

Maureen ‘Mo’ Beck is one hard-core climber! Fun, fearless and fuelled by cupcakes: Mo’s bad-ass tenacity knows no bounds. A highly enjoyable memorable must-see film.

Ruth Farrar

“I don’t want to be known as just a one-armed climber,” says Maureen Beck, “I just want to be a good climber.” Maureen Beck may have been born missing her lower left arm, but that hasn’t stopped her from going hard. 

She takes whippers on 5.12 and crushes overhanging boulders, while shot-gunning beers. But she is not here to be your inspiration. 

“People say, ‘Look, a one-armed climber, now I have no excuses.’ I’m like, dude, you never had any excuses in the first place.” 

Maureen is here to crush the gnar — with one bloody stump helping her get to the top.

The Bikes of Wrath

The Bikes of Wrath tells the story of five Australian friends as they attempt to cycle from Oklahoma to California.

More adventures should be inspired by books! An entertaining and surprisingly profound watch

Elise Wicker

A really unique adventure and film. The American folk they met along the way are amazing, you couldn’t make them up!

Anna Paxton

Jolly nice Ozzie cycling movie. Very relaxing literary adventure fun

Paul Hodgson Music Judge

The Bikes of Wrath tells the story of five Australian friends as they attempt to cycle 2600 kilometers from Sallisaw, Oklahoma, to Bakersfield, California in honor of the mighty westward migration undertaken by ‘The Grapes of Wrath’s’ Joad family. With an inordinate amount of self-belief, the cyclists set-off on their 30-day adventure with no training, no support vehicle, and as one member puts it best, ‘no real idea’. Burdened with trailers, musical instruments, and camera equipment, the group set themselves the additional challenge of surviving on $420 (the modern-day equivalent of the Joads’ $18 in the 1930s) and whatever their musical performances can yield. Riding 90 kilometers a day, the journey along America’s iconic route 66 takes them from the farmlands of Oklahoma to the blistering Mojave desert and countless places in-between; the diversity of landscapes only matched by the assortment of characters met along the way. It is through these chance encounters with everyday Americans that the cyclists expand on the novel’s central themes: migration, inequality and the perceived land of opportunity. The group explores whether America has progressed since the book was written, discussing the wealth gap, immigration, and the American Dream. These vastly different small-town characters quickly become the central focus of the series, as well as integral to the groups’ success; letting the cyclists into their homes, lives, and demonstrating the startling parallels of ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ seventy-eight years after its publication. The Bikes of Wrath seven-part series uncovers a deep insight into the human spirit and shines a positive light on America at a time when the world needs it most; all rolled into a unique, funny and life-affirming observational documentary series filled with adventure, literature, music, and human connection.

Operation Moffatt

Multi award winning, thoughtful portrait of 90 year old writer and climber Gwen Moffatt.

Operation Moffat takes inspiration and wit from the colourful climbing life of Britain's first female mountain guide, Gwen Moffat. Grappling with her preference for mountains over people, adventure over security, wilderness over tick lists, writer Claire Carter and filmmaker Jen Randall climb, run, scramble and swim their way through some of Gwen's most cherished British landscapes. Including candid interviews with 91 year old Gwen, a fresh take on landscape photography, previously unseen archive materials and unashamedly real action sequences, the film captures Gwen's infectious excitement for a life constantly seeking something strange or beautiful around the next bend.