Justine Curgenven has documented a truly big adventure in a seemingly easy-going style. Their audacious boat trip along the hostile Aleutian Islands becomes a true pleasure trip for the spectator, despite the obvious dangers of this first ever complete crossing. You participate in the varied adventures in an intimate way, without realising how remarkable it was to be able to film in such outrageous and difficult conditions. In addition, the magnificent good humour of the protagonists is refreshing. A clear rejection of men’s sweat and pathos.

There were many high quality Austrian films in the Festival this year, both in terms of storytelling and the quality of the filming. It’s an enormous challenge to make an original documentary on a very popular river like the Nile, but the directors did a remarkable job. The jury was impressed by the high quality of filming and the detailed narration of the life that exists from the source to the delta. It is the story of a river that gives life to so much of Africa.

Rita Schlamberger counts among the most important filmmakers of the genre, also on an international level. The genuine rhythm and the gorgeous pictures of nature allow the audience to enter into worlds which would never have been expected in close neighbourhood. “Zurück zum Urwald” is, as well, a strong plea for leaving nature to its inherent beauty and variety, created all alone.

Sport is often associated with discipline, a sense of common purpose and a game plan, but when the rules have yet to be written, a state of freedom to do what you think right exists. This was especially the case in the early days of rock climbing. The legendary big walls of Yosemite have been the play ground for four generations of climbers. Each has its own culture, with a love of the next big challenge as the common bond. This film tells the history of climbing in Yosemite from the 1950’s to the present day, with humour and authority, never missing a chance to ask “what do rules really mean”.

An impressive mix of unknown pages of the Slovakian mountain climbing history and a difficult winter sportive challenge. Two young climbers try to connect some of the most difficult routes in the Tatras opened by the Slovakian climber Wieslaw Stanislawski. A young intellectual with the passion of mountain climbing. The Jury was impressed by the elaborate cinematographic storytelling and the technical achievement of the young climbers. Outstanding filming in the mountain and original editing of historical writings and pictures of Stanislawsky.

Mountaineering is too often presented as a heroic pursuit of men and women pitted against the most hostile environments in nature. But there are other challenges rarely considered. In a sensitive and totally compelling story, this film brings together a group of people who as children lost a parent to K2. With thoughtful editing, and unintrusive camera work, this film explores each individual as they come to terms with the question; “why was I abandoned?”

“Hadwin’s Judgement” is a cinematographic commemoration pleading for a sustainable forest ecology.

“Denali” is a wonderful miniature about the possible deep friendship between a man and dog.

In a funny way, “Bear Island” is an initiation, family constellation and adventure at the same time.