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The 2020 International Film Competition

Our 'Oscars' of mountain film. Hosted by Jury Chairman Keme Nzerem and our panel of judges to reveal the 2020 winners of Kendal’s prestigious film prizes.

Proudly presented by Danner.

The 2020 International Film winners are...

BEST CREATIVE FILM

Then Comes The Evening

Director: Maja Novaković, Serbia

BEST SHORT FILM

Lock Down, Rock Up

Director: Nico Hambleton, UK

BEST ENVIRONMENT FILM

The Cull

Director: Ted Simpson, UK

Best Adventure and Exploration film

Piano to Zanskar

Director: Michal Sulima, UK

BEST MOUNTAIN FILM

The Ghosts Above

Directors: Taylor Rees and Renan Ozturk, USA

Best Sport Film

Runner

Director: Bill Gallagher, USA

Best Climbing Film

Loic and the Flolopapys

Director: Dominique Snyers, Belgium

Best Community and Culture Award

Africa Riding

Director: Aurélien Biette and Liz Gomis, France

Changemaker Award

Venture Out

Director: Palmer Morse, Jamie DiNicola and Matt Mikkelsen, USA

Judges Special Prize

Chasing Ghosts

Director: Eric Bendick, USA

Judges Special Prize

Do Better Together

Director: Shelma Jun, USA

Grand Prize

Into the Storm [En La Tormenta]

Director: Adam Brown, UK

The Jury

Keme Nzerem

Keme is a keen outdoorsman, British Journalist and is best known from his work as a news anchor and reporter at Channel 4 News. He’s been the Chair of the Jury for the last five years and we’re delighted he’s back again!

Jonathan Hourigan

Jonathan Hourigan was educated at University College Oxford and the National Film and Television School. He has directed a feature film and short films, has written a number of screenplays, is a script consultant and film educator. He is currently Course Leader MA Screenwriting and Head of Screenwriting at London Film School.

Mary-Ann Ochota

Mary-Ann is a broadcaster and writer who specialises in anthropology and archaeology. Her work in TV and radio has taken her to the high plateaus of Tibet, the deserts of Australia and the slums of Dhaka. She’s a strong supporter of equitable access to the outdoors and knows the importance of outdoor experiences on wellbeing.

Charlie Dark

Charlie Dark is a DJ, creative influencer and poet from East London. He founded Run Dem Crew in 2007, an alternative running club made up of creative minds that meet to exchange ideas, explore the urban landscape and move. Run Dem Crew works closely with young people across London providing mentoring and advice.

Joe Plenderleith

A Cumbrian local, Joe is 18, and in his second year of curating with Kendal as part of the British Film Institute funded Young Programmers initiative. Born in Tasmania, Joe thrives when spending time outdoors. Being part of the Youth Programmers allowed him to delve deeper into his interest of film and gave him the opportunity of meeting & interviewing some world-renowned videographers.

People choice: Your vote

For filmmakers, the People’s Choice film award is a big deal. It is direct confirmation, from the people who matter – you, the audience – that their film is your favourite.

We are pleased to announce Lock Down Rock Up as the 2020 winner for the People's Choice Award.

TV cameraman and filmmaker Nico Hambleton created his film - which was premiered at the Festival - about paramedic Jerome Mowat from Sheffield, to highlight the challenges he faced working for the Yorkshire and then London Ambulance Service during the COVID crisis. The film highlights his coping mechanism of rock climbing and how he used this hobby as a means to escape the visions that constantly circled round his mind.

With a very British ‘accent’ the film brings a crisis into candid relief, showing a young person's resilience, and the grounding that outdoor can provide. This wonderful short film captured a global moment through a carefully crafted personal perspective.

Thank you for voting.

37th Boardman Tasker Award

This is awarded annually to the author or authors of the best literary work, whether fiction, non-fiction, drama or poetry the central theme is mountain environment.

Established in 1983 to commemorate the lives of Peter Boardman and Joe Tasker, the Boardman Tasker Charitable Trust celebrates their legacy by presenting the annual Award for Mountain Literature, presented to the author of an original work, which has made an outstanding contribution to mountain literature.

The Judging Panel for the 2020 Boardman Tasker Award was Katie Ives (Chair of Judges), David Canning & Mike Kosterlitz.

The shortlisted books were The Unremembered Places by Patrick Baker, Where there's a Will by Emily Chappell, Slatehead by Peter Goulding, Two Trees Make A Forest by Jessica J. Lee and The Uncrowned King of Mont Blanc by Peter Foster.

The 37th Boardman Tasker Award prize winner for Mountain Literature is: Jessica J. Lee, Two Trees Make A Forest.

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© Kendal Mountain Festival 2020
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