Justine’s Blog

UNITED WITH THE TROPHY FOR ‘BEST ADVENTURE FILM’ AT KENDAL MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL!

The mist shrouded Barry, Jim Krawiecki and I as we paddled out to Hilbre island at the mouth of the Dee Estuary this morning. We could only see about 30 metres away so I was glad when a black smudge appeared ahead of us. Jim brought along the trophy that he collected for me at Kendal Mountain Film Festival, and a bottle of booze that came with the prize. The trophy was made by Andy Parkin, sculptor and climber.

HILBRE EMERGES FROM THE MIST

I’m really excited that the 50 minute film of my and Barry’s circumnavigation of the South island has won a major prize!

Kendal Mountain Film Festival is the UK’s largest adventure film festival and one of the big 4 mountain film festivals, alongside Banff in Canada ( which I was too late to enter). Today it was announced that the film won the ‘best Mountain Adventure Film’ award which is a great honor. The sharp ones amongst you may have noticed that the NZ film is not strictly a MOUNTAIN adventure – however most ‘Mountain Film Festivals’ are broad enough to show other outdoor adventure films aswell, and there isn’t a ‘best adventure film’ category. I’m very grateful to the judges for being broad-minded enough to chose a seakayaking film as the winner and I personally think it says a lot for the film to win here!

Unfortunately I can’t be there to collect the prize as I’m still in New York, but Jim Krawiecki is collecting it on my behalf.

I should remind you that the NZ film is just one part of the “This is the Sea 4” DVD double disc set ……. so it’s a real bargain!

There is another review of the “This is the Sea 4” on the Solent Seakayaking blog.

The last US premiere of “This is the Sea 4” was last night in New York City organised by Marcus DeMuth and the Manhattan Kayak Company The tour has been a great success with well over 1,000 people seeing the premiere version of the film in 10 different locations. It wasn’t all ‘work’ and we got to go seakayaking 9 times, in 6 different US states. Tonight we go home, and we’re looking forward to that aswell!

CHERI AND TURNER IN CHERI’S LIVING ROOM/ TURNERS WORKSHOP ANNEX!

WICOPESSET PASSAGE
We continue to see our breath in front of us and anxiously guard our fingers on the West coast. Yesterday we paddled at Wicopesset Passage in Connecticut with Sid, Turner, Nick, Ron & Paula. The air temperature was hovering around freezing, and the wind wasn’t helping but the sun was out and we had fun playing in the race that forms there.

Tonight Barry and I are in New York City at Pier 66 Boathouse for the last premiere on our tour, before we return home tomorrow.

There are a few more premieres happening soon in Montreal, Toronto and Wellington, New Zealand so if you live near-by then you can also get a chance to see an hour long version of the DVD FOR FREE and mingle with other seakayakers. The details are below.

Saturday 25th November Montreal, Quebec
There is a premiere in Montreal, Quebec on November 25th at le Sergent Recruteur, a micro-brewry, at 19h30. Entry is free. (4801 St-Laurent Blvd, Montreal)

DECEMBER 6th TORONTO –
At ‘Complete Paddler‘ at 1pm
RSVP to gerald croney

28th November New Zealand
New Zealand premier in Wellington on Friday 28th November, 7pm in the Spectrum Theatre.

SID SEAL LAUNCHING

The almost freezing temperature in New York has been a bit of a shock to the system after shorts and t-shirts in Florida but we braved the icy wind and had a good paddle today in NYC. A very different paddle to what I’m used to – with cliffs of steel and glass and so many boats whizzing around everywhere. We’re staying with Sid Stone who showed us the city last night, including going to the top of the Rockerfeller building and a horse drawn cart around Central Park. Thanks to Sid.

Tomorrow ( Thursday) is the Connecticut premiere in Middletown organised by Connyak.
In the UK, this coming weekend the New Zealand film and the Dubside film are showing at the Kendal Mountain Film Festival, the UKs largest mountain film festival.