Weekly Watchlist - Week 21 - ShAFF

Ride Of The Dead

A trip through Mexican culture and a tribute to the Day of the Dead.

What an epic race and epic rideing. This has to be on your bucket list of dream rides.

Ed Birch Director of Salt-Street productions

An atmospheric and compassionate evocation of A mans relationship with place, family and mountain biking.

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

The Trans-Sierra Norte is a multi-day enduro mountain bike race that rips through the Oaxacan highlands offering more than 3,000 feet of elevation gain/loss. The trails are thousands of years old and were predominately used to connect local villages and exchange goods, further making the bike event a cultural rarity. Especially since it finishes in Oaxaca City right about the time the fireworks are blasting off for the Day of the Dead fiesta (Dia de los Muertos). Yefra builds and maintains the trails nestled within Oaxaca’s backcountry and works with the local villages and the Transierra Note administration to develop a network of world-class trails once used as donkey trodden trade routes. This is one man’s journey to share his love of riding with the world.

Chasing Monsters

Australian storm chasing photographer Nick Moir journeys through the American Midwest in pursuit of tornadoes.

Cracking storm chaser film with awe inspiring photography and superb editing. Thoroughly recommended.

Paul Hodgson Music Judge

Terror and anticipation felt in equal measure. A fantastic example of storytelling through sound design.

Elise Wicker

You don't need a 4G cinema to feel the rain on your face on this one.

Ed Birch Director of Salt-Street productions

You might have seen films that capture the raw power of nature before - storms, thunder and lightning. With stunning photography and an atmospheric soundtrack, this film also captures the obsession of the storm chasing photographer and what it takes to get those shots.

Anna Paxton

Chasing Monsters is a creative tour de force. Director Krystle Wright's innovative daring cinematography and perfectly honed storytelling skills are on full electrifying display in this amazing short film. A must see!

Ruth Farrar

A wild future is upon us. This rhythmic and emotive film sets us in the path of the storm

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

For the past 20 years, Australian photographer Nick Moir has been chasing storms and bushfires around the world. In the American Midwest every Spring/Summer, ferocious supercell storms and tornadoes wreak havoc otherwise known as 'Monsters on the Plains.' Through electrifying visuals and sound, the film showcases that adrenaline rush and offering a further insight into the work of Nick.

RJ Ripper

The chaotic streets of Kathmandu may not seem like a typical breeding ground for world-class mountain bikers, but then again nothing is typical about Rajesh (RJ) Magar.

Kids and bikes; wherever you are in the world, they go together. The chaotic streets of Kathmandu may not seem like a typical breeding ground for world-class mountain bikers, but then again nothing is typical about Rajesh (RJ) Magar. Since learning to ride on a beat-up clunker, to becoming the four-time National Champion at age 21, RJ’s story is one of boundless childhood dreaming and unstoppable determination, forged from junkyard scraps and tested on the rugged trails of the mighty Himalaya.

Running for Good: The Fiona Oakes Documentary

Follow world record marathon runner Fiona Oakes as she takes on the toughest footrace on earth, the Marathon Des Sables.

A surprising, refreshing and unbelievable story, told beautifully.

Elise Wicker

This is one of the most stunningly put together films in the entire festival flagship for the adventurer activism side to SHAFF 2019

Ed Birch Director of Salt-Street productions

Fiona is incredible. Humour, compassion, steely mental drive. Finding something more than 'because it's there'.

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

From Executive Producer James Cromwell and award-winning director Keegan Kuhn (Cowspiracy, What The Health) comes RUNNING FOR GOOD, the feature-length sports documentary narrated by Rich Roll (Finding Ultra), following world record marathon runner Fiona Oakes in her attempt not only to set a new global record in endurance racing, but to compete in the “toughest footrace on earth,” the Marathon Des Sables, a 250km race through the Sahara Desert. Fiona Oakes has made a name for herself as a unique endurance runner. She is the fastest woman in the world to run a marathon on all seven continents, and the north pole, in both cumulative and elapsed time. Fiona’s achievements are made even more astounding due to the fact that she was told at age 14 that she would never walk properly, let alone ever run. She would undergo more than 17 radical knee surgeries which ultimately led to having her entire right kneecap removed. The process was agonizing, the rehab worse, the records she’s gone on to set even more astounding. With overcoming her own adversity, Fiona’s true drive to achieve incredible feats of speed and human endurance are motivated by a deep desire to raise awareness for the plight of animals. Her achievements help fund a 450+ animal sanctuary that she takes care of every day.

Sacred Strides

In March 2018, a group of tribes put their differences aside and came together to run 800 miles to Bears Ears and to send a message of unity

A powerful film documenting the Hopi, Navajo, Pueblo and Ute people coming together to run in solidarity, and in support of their traditional lands, which are losing their protection due to recent US government decisions.

Anna Paxton

Powerful, beautiful and entertaining film about Native American using running to inform both spiritual experience and political activism

Paul Hodgson Music Judge

A beautiful depiction of the power of embodiment and community as a form of activism.

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

Bears Ears National Monument is one of the most talked-about public lands under threat, though the dialogue often glosses over how sacred it is to many Native Americans. In March 2018, a group of tribes put their differences aside and came together to run 800 miles to Bears Ears and to send a message of unity. The Sacred Strides for Healing Prayer Run wove from tribal homelands across the Southwest to Bears Ears. Watch to meet the people who are participating in the public lands conversation with their feet, and learn about why this land is so important to them.