Kendal Mountain Festival Highlights

Every year we genuinely think it was the best ever, and wonder how it can possibly get better, and then 12 months later we’re saying exactly the same thing. Film makers keep creating, lecturers keep going to ever more diverse places and seeing them with new eyes, and the Festival team keeps getting better and better.

Personally I had a great Fest, being right at the heart of it as presenter coordinator and the “Face of the Fest” at the VIP opening on Thursday evening through to the closing stages at the Award Ceremony on the Sunday night.

One of the regular comments we get is that there’s just too much, so it’s difficult to know what to see. That’s not about to change any time soon! For me, that’s compounded by working sessions, problem solving as the Fest roller-coasters its way through the 4 nights and 3 days while simultaneously preparing for the most intense part of it all, that Award Ceremony

Nevertheless, I’ve managed to see some great films and speakers, so here are my highlights of Kendal Mountain Festival 2010 (in no special order - it was all brilliant!):

· The world première of The Pinnacle – a beautiful portrayal of all that’s best about Scottish winter climbing and the interview footage with Jimmy Marshall is moving and inspirational.

· Timmy O’Neill and his show “Outrageous” – Timmy is a great performer (think of an American version of Andy Kirkpatrick on speed) with a very clever way of taking the audience with him, making them feel part of the climbing tribe and at the same time some cutting social comment. Keep on keeping on, Timmy.

· The Mongol Rally – eccentric English type travels from Kensington to Ulan Bator on a budget. See it, but take care if you’re a bit sentimental about goats. Mongolian goat killing techniques are fairly swift and direct.

· A Life Ascending – Stunning film about a mountain guide recovering from a very serious avalanche accident. Nick Parks says ”Every mountain guide should see this film”.

· The Prophet –Alastair Lee triumphs again, documenting Leo Houlding making a new free ascent on El Cap, accompanied by a top quality sound track. Inspiring stuff. And of course –

· The Award Ceremony itself, with Bonners nearly cratering off the stage, full luvvie action from notable Cumbrian celebs and Leo sabering the top off a bottle of champagne to bring a great 4 nights and 3 days to a close. It’s really gratifying when Alastair Lee says “That was easily the best awards ceremony that Kendal has ever done... enjoyable and entertaining throughout... well done!”

See you all in 2011!