If you are interested in sponsoring ShAFF 2014 please call Matt Heason on 01433 639378 / 07966 529219 or email matt@heason.net.

We've produced a short video report for sponsors and partners featuring the trailer soundtrack 'Summer Somewhere' by Sheffield six piece Screaming Maldini which our brilliant videographer Matt Kerfoot has integrated into footage of the the band singing live. 

These are a few of the key figures:

• Now in its 8th year, for the past seven years 100% of the audience said they’d come back again and recommend it to a friend.  ShAFF 2013 was our best ever year with a 29% increase in ticket sales – that means our ticket sales have trebled over the past three years.  (2013 – 3,753 - 29% increase; 2012 – 2,908 - 44% increase; 2011 – 2,024 - 77% increase)
• 23% of visitors stayed in Sheffield because of the festival for 1.8 nights each. That’s 1,554 bed nights.
• 3,300 people visited our Workstation Exhibition Centre making the MyOutdoors' gallery the UK’s biggest outdoors photography exhibition this year.
• 150+ piece of media coverage
• 20,000+ unique website visits
• 32,000+ trailer views

Analysis of feedback by 300 of our visitors showed ShAFF visitors say being a festival sponsor:

a. Effectively gains my attention and increases my awareness of an organisation? 89%
b. Provides a more positive image of the organisation? 94%
c. Increases the premium image of the organisation? 83%
d. Encourages me to buy or use the sponsor’s main products/services? 78%

Read more in the 2013 ShAFF Report and see what our sponsors say about working with ShAFF over the past 8 years.

There's a general release version without the stats & graphics:

Stills images by the very talented Jake Thompson from LW Images are on our facebook page.

Testimonial quotes:

“Last year ShAFF was good, this year it was in a totally different league. You expect great films, it's in the name, but with the takeover of the Workstation and the addition of the open-air cinema it achieved the kind of feel you get at Kendal that this is something BIG, feeling as though the whole city centre is ShAFF."  Dave Mycroft, Managing Editor, MyOutdoors.  (Read the full review on MyOutdoors)

“For me, Saturday demonstrated what can be delivered when two parties pull whole heartedly in the same direction.” Robbie Henderson from Red Bull on Cityscape Cinema

"I think they're a really good way of getting youngsters into doing something active.  You see a film, you're inspired, you go out and try something.  Yes, we're already talking about next year - doing something bigger, so we're already thinking about it!" Alistair Boyd, Castleton Youth Hostel manager

"We've got our logo up on the majority of films, we've got the stand and been able to bring the bike in.  It's been such a great experience we'd like to do it again next year without a doubt.  The atmosphere, the people and the quality of films has been brilliant."  Martin Rescorle, owner of Over-Ride Cycleworks, Shalesmoor, Sheffield

 

2013

“Last year ShAFF was good, this year it was in a totally different league. You expect great films, it's in the name, but with the takeover of the Workstation and the addition of the open-air cinema it achieved the kind of feel you get at Kendal that this is something BIG, feeling as though the whole city centre is ShAFF.”  Dave Mycroft, MyOutdoors (Read full review).
 

“For me, Saturday demonstrated what can be delivered when two parties pull whole heartedly in the same direction.” Robbie Henderson from Red Bull, host of ShAFF Cityscape Cinema.

2012

Ged Holmyard, Promotions Department, Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op:  "I am writing to say that I appreciate the exposure Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op gained through our sponsorship of the Sheffield Adventure Film Festival.  We appreciate the fact that ShAFF attracts a demographic who might be very interested in our offer.  The site of our banners outside The Showroom cinema on Paternoster Row made us proud.  What really impressed me was your creative use of social media and the fact that you took the time to mention our support and feature our logo at every opportunity.  The friendly ShaFF staff wearing T-shirts featuring our logo on was a nice touch.  I would go so far as to say that you have been among the most professional and easy to work with partners I have had the pleasure to work with in my 28 years with Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op."

James MacKeddie, Brand Manager, Madison:  “As a first timer to the festival [in 2012], I have to say I was truly impressed.  The amount and quality of films was staggering, there was always something to do in between films, whether it be relax in the bar with live music, which I'll add always had a great atmosphere, to looking round at kit.  The venue is great, easy to get to from the motorway or especially via train. Furthermore considering the unseasonal weather on the Sunday, we still had plenty of people coming in to see the films and experience.”

2011


Rob Sykes at Mammut (2011 sponsor):  “We were delighted to be involved in SHAFF 2011.  With an exciting programme of films, speakers, events and competitions, ShAFF has firmly established itself as a major player in the adventure festival world.  Sponsorship offered Mammut both a cost effective branding opportunity but also the chance to meet and speak to visitors directly.”

Si Homfray, Creative Director, Hammer Design:  "We enjoy working with ShAFF as a team, but also as a commercial exercise we enjoy the privileges of such an association. Hammer Design clients and customers share much in common with the ShAFF ethos and it is a fertile ground for building our business."
 

Stuart Hale & Debs - Accelerate Running Store:  "Top event and proud to be associated. Top job."


Brian MacAlinden - General Manager at The Climbinig Works:  "A fantastic film festival that highlights all the reasons why Sheffield is the centre of UK outdoor adventure sports. Films and lectures to inspire and help push our own limits in our local environment."

Ellie Barker, Silva (a leading International mobile lighting specialist which pioneered the award winning light distribution technology, Silva Intelligent Light), said:  "We create cutting edge designs for the most demanding outdoors pursuits. Silva are delighted to support ShaFF's Expert Night Biking Event, top experts Nick Craig and Nik Cook and our fellow bike enthusiasts."

Ben Winston, photographer and journalist:  "I loved the SHAFF trailer so much that I've been through and watched the ones for the past few years. They're amazing - really get the adrenaline flowing. And I love that snowboard thing..."

Linda Cooley, Friends in High Places (for Edale Mountain Rescue Team):  "Watching the films at ShaFF is fascinating. It's great to see how folks set themselves such challenges: there are people crawling deep inside the darkness of mountains, battling up their sheer sides, and skiing down them when they're transformed into a wonderland of snow. There are even people practically somersaulting through forests on bicycles (I'd never even imagined such a sport until I saw it at ShaFF!). A wonderful event. But do spare a thought from time to time for those who are there to help when things go wrong out on those hills and mountains that we love so much."
 

Simon Jacques - our Music Man:  "Everyone I know who went said they had a great time and I've not received anything good stuff about the music. I think we got it spot on this year."

Some feedback from Martin, our Volunteer Coordinator:  The Volunteers seemed to enjoy the experience and there were some nice (unsolicited!) comments - for example:
“I thoroughly enjoyed it and would love to come back next year.....I think everyone thought it was a top weekend”
“The volunteer experience was positive for me.  I particularly appreciated the friendly and relaxed manner in which the festival was managed.”
“I’ve really enjoyed myself.  It was great meeting all these lovely welcoming people......!
I think it’s important it is a good volunteer, as well as audience experience.
 

2010

Jenny Johnson - South Yorkshire Orienteers: "We really enjoyed Adventure Medley and Climbing 2 and the kids seemed to really enjoy the orienteering even if it was slightly manic!"

2009

Mick Ryan, UKClimbing:  "UKClimbing.com are proud to be supporting ShAFF again as a sponsor, indeed any events that Matt Heason organises.  We believe that climbing and mountaineering culture lags only just behind actually climbing in importance in the life of climbers."

"Full credit to Matt for his energy and creativity in organising ShAFF, he's stuck with it and it gets better every year. I'm particularly looking forward to Ed Douglas interviewing Ron Fawcett, one of the greatest climbers to touch rock and put on the spot by one of the UK's finest outdoor journalists. And I won't be missing the Chris Sharma lecture."

Alan James, UKClimbing:  "As a Sheffield-based business, UKClimbing.com is proud to be the media sponsor for ShAFF. This event has now grown in stature to be one of the main Outdoor-oriented Film Festivals in the Country. It's diversity in including all adventure sports enables those who tend to get very single-minded about their own activities to witness the amazing achievements of others who push adventure to the limits."

Andy Bowman, Big Stone:  "Number one for me, I feel Bigstone and our brands Arcteryx, Edelweiis Ropes, Smartwool and 5.10 need to support local "core" events, in essence put something back in.  Number two, Shaff represents cutting edge activities and issues, we are and have to be associated with them."

Tom Briggs - Jagged Globe:  "We feel that Sheffield deserves a top rate mountain festival, and are really excited to be a part of helping to grow ShAFF. This year, there's a superb line up of speakers, including some of the top names in climbing and mountaineering, We hope that the Jagged Globe Lecture Series will complement the brilliant programme of adventure films."

Steve Hodgeson - Hallamshire Physiotherapy:  "ShAFF is an excellent, well organised event that we are proud to sponsor.  We have sponsored ShAFF since the inaugural event and we find it helps raise our profile with our patients-many of whom partake in outdoor events and activities."
 

Brian McAlinden - The Climbing Works:  "The Climbing Works is very happy and proud to be a supporter of ShAFF as it is hosts a selection of adventure films & events that would otherwise never been seen by the public. Sheffield is a city that is at the heart of many extreme sports in the UK and ShAFF helps improve and enhance that reputation."
 

David Roberts - Silverworks:  "Why do I support ShAFF?  I know, because of Matt's determination and passion, that ShAFF will become the ‘DEFACTO' adventure film festival for the United Kingdom, and possibly beyond. The quality of films screened at ShAFF is World-Class and there is always a fantastic atmosphere at the festival, something that makes all the difference - it's exciting!"

Ben Doung - The North Marketing Agency:  "The North Marketing Agency are pleased with be able to work on the 4th ShAFF. There seems to be a excellent line-up of films and speakers this year and there's definitely a real buzz building up to the event. It's a great festival and deserves all the support it can get. And the fact that it's in Sheffield is even better!"

The Ordnance Survey Outdoors Show:  "The Ordnance Survey Outdoors Show is delighted to support ShAFF once again in 2009. With such a fantastic line up of films and speakers, the festival is sure to inspire visitors to get outside, improve their skills and embrace a life of adventure!"

Hayley Lever - aitchelle sports development consultancy:  "As a Sports Development consultant, and someone who'd been along to Shaff over the last three years, I could see great potential for inspiring young people to get into sport through this festival. The films are high quality, and really exciting. My company is supporting a promotional tour of the youth programme, as I want to see the films reaching a wide audience from all backgrounds and all ages. We are doing a small tour of schools and community venues this year, as a pilot. The response has been really positive. Hopefully next year there will be an even bigger programme, and perhaps we'll be inspiring the next generation of climbers, skiers, and extreme sports enthusiasts!"

Sarah Stirling - Sarah Stirling PR:  "I am very proud to be supporting ShAFF and promoting the event within the outdoor and adventure world. And who, with an interest in that world, wouldn't want to be there? It's a top event on the mountain calendar, with a brilliant range of top quality inspiring films, speakers and fringe events and it gets bigger and better every year. I can't wait!"

Iain Whitehouse - CragX:  "We're supporting SHAFF because it is an important local event for climbers and seems to generate a real buzz each year. Although local climbing competitions are popular they tend to attract a specific subset of climbers. Very few climbing-related events seem to draw enthusiastic climbers from the full spectrum of climbing activities the way SHAFF does."
 

2006

Shane Ohly, Director of planetFear:  "As the title sponsor of ShAFF we were extremely impressed with the organisation of the event and the publicity it received. For a film festival to generate that much interest and crucially ‘bums on seats’ in its first year bodes well for the future. I’m looking forward to next year already!"
 

We work incredibly hard at ShAFF to make sure that we have the best selection of adventure films we possibly can.

ShAFF is about showing the best adventure films, new and old, from around the world. They may be sport based, environment-focused, humerous, none of the above, all three or something entirely different, but they must show adventure. If you have a film that that meets any of these criteria we are very interested in hearing from you. ShAFF works best with 15 to 20 minute films. If you have a short / festival edit of your film we would be interested in this. However we screen films of all lengths.

Deadline - 1st December

Submission Costs - Submitting your film to ShAFF is FREE. We very much appreciate the support of filmmakers and don’t think that charging you for the privilege of submitting your film is the right thing to do.

Payment / Awards - We have a panel of judges who view all films screened at ShAFF and declare winners and runners up in each of the following categories:

1. Best Film
2. Best Climbing Film
3. Best Feature Film*
4. Best Short Film**
5. Best Ski & Board Film
6. Best Spirit Of Adventure Film
7. Best Artistic Film
8. Steve Peat Best Bike Film
9. Best Running Film
10. Judges Special Prize

£100 will be awarded to the winning film in each category, with £200 to the Best Film winner.

*We class a feature film as anything over an hour.
**The maximum length of the short film category varies from year to year depending on the films submitted, but is generally around 5 -10 minutes.

Every year we show a series of Best Of ShAFF screenings.

The first of these is always on the Sunday night of the festival weekend. However we also organise further screenings at The Showroom as an appetizer for the next festival.   From time, to time, additional screenings at other venues. If you would like to be kept informed of such screenings please subscribe to the festival newsletter. If you would like to book such a screening please contact us.

April 27th - Castleton Youth Hostel, The Peak District. 19.30

Crossing The Ice & Journey On The Wild Coast.

More details and tickets.

ShAFF would not happen without the help every year of volunteers.

Some help out for just a few hours. Others put weeks of work into the festival and help to make it what it is. Volunteering to work with the festival is just what it says; the work is unpaid, but you may get a T-shirt for your efforts, and you will certainly earn some free tickets. You'll hopefully get a glowing reference too if that's of any help. The volunteer application form will be made available on this page in December.

Winner of 2013 Sheffield Adventure Film Festival Grand Prize for Best Film and Silver Medalist in Best Spirit of Adventure Film.  (For full list of result click here)

Wavedreamer called it: "The most unlikely, best surf film ever".  Two Norwegian friends have a crazy idea about building a beach hut north of the arctic circle and spending the winter living off flotsam and jetsam.  Extreme beach-combing, stunning cinematography and a cabin Bilbo Baggins would be proud to call home. 

Writer, journalist and enthusiastic amateur climber Ed Douglas reviews our Grand Prize winner 'North of the Sun' for the online arts magazine 'Calm and Fearless'.  Ed says:  "Anyone with a passion for wild places and an interest in the impacts we have on the planet will love it. And anyone who wants a fresh take on what our lives can be will find it an inspiration".  Read the rest of his review.

Duration: 46 mins

Nationality: Norwegian

Year:  2012

Directed By: Jørn Nyseth Ranum & Inge Wegge

Produced By: Filmhuset Produksjoner AS, Anne Bergseng

Sponsor: Norrøna

Website: nordiskpanorama.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nordforsola

Previous Awards:     

• The Norwegian Documentary Film Festival: Audience Award
• The Norwegian Short Film Festival: Honorary Mention - Documentary Films
• Canadian Surf Film Festival: Best Film, Best Cinematography
• London Surf Film Festival: Best Documentary
• Wavescape Surf Film Festival: Best Feature Length Film
• Waimea Ocean Film Festival: Audience Award

Showing as part of: Spirit Of Adventure Films 3 & Best Of ShAFF / Awards