The BMC TV Women in Adventure Film Competition is back and accepting submissions for 2021. So dive in, if you have a story to tell or a cause to share it's time to do so!
We want to see your adventures captured on film and keep the cycle of inspiration rolling as we head into the seventh year of the competition, supported by Montane.
**SUBMISSION DEADLINE EXTENDED**
Usually the winners of the BMC Women in Adventure Film Competition are screened and announced at Sheffield Adventure Film Festival every spring, however with ShAFF being announced as being postponed until summer 2021, we've taken the opportunity to extend the deadline for submissions, with the deadline now changed to 5th April 2021 .
Interested?
We're after films that are up to 10 minutes long (though they can be much shorter if you choose!) about the adventures of an outdoor-loving womxn.
You don't have to be a pro filmmaker or an elite athlete to enter. We want to see films featuring females of all shapes, sizes, ages and abilities.
Do something different! Make your film stand out by putting your own spin on the competition. Your film doesn't have to be a documentary and could be completely fictional. Get creative and make the competition what you want it to be.
Why you should enter
The aim of this competition is to increase the number of outdoorsy women on the big screen, and with your films, we can make that happen. We know there are so many amazing women out there doing amazing things in amazing places and even often, for amazing causes. In fact, this year we've added a new category- the Make a Difference Award - to help highlight the amazing work that is being done by members of the outdoor community for important causes such as in the combat against the climate crisis and amplifying diversity in the outdoors.
DISCOVER: The Climate Project - our environmental campaign to combat the climate crisis
2020 winning Director, Rachel Sarah , offers up her advice for anyone thinking of entering this year: "Make something, and submit it. Enjoy it and have fun with it or, equally as important, explore something you are uncomfortable with, and let bad experiences be shared. It's cathartic to create and share, either way. Collaborate if you can; you'd be surprised by how many other people are out there wanting to make things, too. And, quite often, two or three creative brains and cameras are better than one. Community is everything!
WATCH: 2020 Winning Film 'Uncomfortable'
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Director of Aziza and our 2019 winner, Emma Crome , says "the Women In Adventure Film Competition offers a new wave of accessibility for emerging adventure film makers, providing a supportive network of peers, professionals and mentors that can make all the difference when it comes to progressing your film making. It was wonderful to receive the award for our film 'Aziza', as we feel it is indicative of how our adventure film network can give something back to the people and communities we explore".
WATCH: All the 2020 entries in our Women in Adventure Film playlist
By entering the competition, you'll not only be in with a chance of winning cash prizes and the opportunity to showcase your film at some epic outdoor film festivals, but you'll also spur on fellow females to get outside and maybe try something new.
The Prizes
The Montane Women in Adventure Award: £600 + ShAFF (Sheffield Adventure Film Festival) and Kendal Mountain Festival screenings + free entry into the Banff Mountain Film Competition .
Most Watched: £300
This will be decided by the number of views each film receives on the TeamBMC Youtube Channel. The film with the highest number of views will receive the award
Best Professional Film: £300
This category is for films that have been commercially backed and/or produced by a film company. You can see the submission form for the full criteria for this category.
Make a Difference Award: £300
This award is new to 2021 and has been created to encourage films that highlight women and their projects that are promoting the important issues. Whether that be combatting the climate crisis, promoting sustainability, amplifying diversity, or uniting society behind a valuable cause through the outdoor community .
All film entries will be shown on BMC TV (
TeamBMC YouTube channel ). Judging guidelines are available to enable you to devise a film, which you feel meets the brief most effectively.
WATCH: Women in Adventure Film Competition Trailer 2021
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How do I enter?
So now you're psyched and ready to get going, here's how to go about entering:
1) Get filming
Remember that your film should be 10 minutes tops and feature a woman as the main protagonist. Check out these from Paul Diffley's video guide to adventure filmmaking to help you get started. Or veteran filmmaker Alastair Lee's best advice on making an outdoor film.
2) Download the Entry Form & Submission Guidelines and the Judging Guidelines
3) Submit your film by midnight (GMT) on Monday 18 January 2021
**DEADLINE EXTENDED** April 5th 2021
Send a Dropbox link (or similar) to emma@thebmc.co.uk using the subject line “Women in Adventure Film Competition”, accompanied by the entry form and promotional images.
Good luck!
Need inspiration?
WATCH: All the 2020 winners and entries
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The Judges
Emma Brennand
Emma is an award-winning director who has "scripted, directed and taken through the edit blue chip natural history, presenter & contributor films" with credits including Planet Earth II and The One Show.
Claire Carter
Claire is a writer, poet and a creative consultant in the outdoor industry. Claire is the Artistic Director for Kendal Mountain Festival and Head judge at Sheffield Adventure Film Festival.
Rehna Yaseen
Rehna Yaseen is a Youth Community Worker and Outdoor Instructor. She appeared on Kendal Mountain Festival during the Alpine Lowe Adventure Speaker session last year and has made a recent appearance on BBC Countryfile.
Lynn Robinson
Keen advocate for the Women in Adventure competition year on year, Lynn is President of the BMC and brings with her judging experience from sitting on the jury panel for Banff Mountain Film Festival in 2019.
Want to host your own Women in Adventure film night?
We want to share the amazing array of adventures that have been submitted to us over the years, so what better way to do that than to invite you to host your own film evening !
Whether you’re an indoor wall, an outdoor activity centre, a club, running an event or just want to get a group of friends together, our vast BMC Women in Adventure film catalogue will let you tailor your own film night to your own audience!
Sign up to our email list to get all the latest news and updates about the competition:
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We want to say a big thanks to every BMC member who continues to support us through the Coronavirus crisis.
From weekly Facebook Lives and GB Climbing home training videos, to our access team working to re-open the crags and fight for your mountain access, we couldn’t do it without you.
Did you know that we've just launched a new U27 membership offer for just £1 / month? And with full membership from £1.66 / month, it's never been easier to join and support our work:
https://www.thebmc.co.uk/join-the-bmc-for-1-month-U27-membership
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