Weekly Watchlist - Week 16 - ShAFF

Ode to Muir

Jeremy Jones and two-time Olympian Elena Hight as they embark on a 40-mile foot-powered expedition deep into California’s John Muir Wilderness.

Teton Gravity's newest film Ode To Muir pairs professional snowboarder, adventurer and founder of Protect Our Winters Jeremy Jones with two-time Olympian Elena Hight as they embark on a 40-mile foot-powered expedition deep into California’s John Muir Wilderness. Their journey balances the challenges of winter camping, grueling climbs up the Sierra’s biggest mountains, and aesthetic first descents with personal reflections on the importance of the natural world and those who first traveled it generations ago, and sharing perspectives gleaned from what it truly means to explore a great American Wilderness.

Blue

Blue is a fantastical journey into a young girl’s imagination, exploring the snowy mountains of Alaska by bike.

Blue is a fantastical journey into a young girl’s imagination. Our character is a four-year-old growing up in Valdez, Alaska. Fresh off training wheels, she begins to push her boundaries and explore what’s possible on her bike, her eyes naturally drifting to the mountains. We dive into the world of her fantasy and explore the mountains, glaciers and rivers of Valdez by fat bike with a crew of boundary-pushing female athletes hailing from Alaska and beyond. Blue is a testament to the inherent creativity, innovation and strength forged in women of the north. In it we present a spectacle of winter innovation—the icy playground providing a visual journey as never seen before by bike.

Brotherhood of Skiing

Since 1973, the National Brotherhood of Skiers has overcome barriers by bringing soul, smiles and a party to the mountain.

BLOODY AMAZING,

Claire Carter Writer, Film Officer for Kendal Mountain Festival, 'Creative Consultant'.

Fantastic historical documentary about black skiing activists. Really fun

Paul Hodgson Music Judge

Since, 1973, the National Brotherhood of Skiers has overcome barriers by bringing soul, smiles and a party to the mountain. Formed during the height of the civil rights movement, the organization is dedicated to creating a welcoming space for people of color on the slopes and supporting black youth in snow sports. Today, the Brotherhood hosts the largest gathering of black skiers in the United States and represents 53 ski clubs in four regions across the country and 3,000 members.

Call Me Peg Leg

Meet Rik or Peg Leg as he is now officially called, one legged chef, traveller and one of the UK's most exciting surfers. A short film by Mattr.Media

Meet Rik or Peg Leg as he is now officially called, one legged chef, traveller and one of the UK's most exciting surfers. Featuring: Pegleg Rik Bennett Created by: Mattr. Media (mattr.media) Director: Josh Hine (joshhine.co.uk) Producer: Josh Fineman Production Manager: Dave Hudson DOP: Nick Morris (nickmorrisdop.com) Camera Assistant: Thomas Terminet Sound: Jim Friend Editor: Hettie Griffiths (hettiegriffiths.co.uk) Special Thanks to: Seiners Arms Feral Equipment Channel 4

Ascending Afghanistan: Women Rising

Young women in Afghanistan becoming leaders through climbing and mountaineering

The challenge is not always a peak this film demonstrates that in spades an incredibly harrowing story. Contains graphic scenes, extreme violence watch with corsham.

Ed Birch Director of Salt-Street productions

A group of Afghan women attempt to climb the highest mountain in Afghanistan. As determined as they are, it seems even they underestimated the challenge they were taking on, mentally, physically, and culturally. Powerful and sometimes hard to watch, but please do watch it.

Anna Paxton

At times, this documentary is extremely challenging to watch because it does not hold back from contextualising the barriers women must overcome in this film. Though this in turn helps demonstrate why this all-female group's expedition is truly empowering and ground-breaking.

Ruth Farrar

Astounding. Watch this.

Claire Carter Writer, Film Officer for Kendal Mountain Festival, 'Creative Consultant'.

Immensely dramatic and remarkably complete epic documentary about the challenges of female climbing in Afghanistan. Probably the best film in the festival because not only is it highly challenging, it is also a lot of fun. You will feel better about the world if you watch it.

Paul Hodgson Music Judge

A joint venture between Vice and HBO, we learn about the everyday challenges of being a woman in Afghanistan, and some dark chapters in the history of women's rights there. The bulk of the film follows a group of young women as they progress through a programme of training and then an attempt on a high peak in Afghanistan, accompanied by local climbers and a US based guide, Danika Gilbert. It is a challenging and sometimes emotional journey for everyone, as they battle injury, tiredness and personal demons. But the girls' energy is contagious, and inspiring. Each participant wants to summit Mount Noshaq. The more important question is whether the experience can help them live their lives as fully and bravely as possible.