5 short films you have to see

Didn’t make it along to the thirteenth Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival in February?

You can still enjoy all the adventure-inducing, heart-racing, awe-inspiring productions right from the comfort of your own sofa. Here’s our top five from the weekend. Grab some popcorn and get comfy!

1. Unreal – One Shot

This took away Best Short Film at the EMFF, and you’ll see why – everything from the production to the soundtrack is perfect! Filmed in one continuous segment, mountain biker Brandon Semenuk weaves down sweet lines and arcs through jumps and drops… Watch out for the heart-stopping moment when he swaps his bike.

2. Miles Away

This short was climber Dave MacLeod’s second (out of three) appearance at the film festival. This time though, he’s behind-the-scenes… or you could say behind the drone. This 4-minute film follows long-distance runner Alicia Hudelson as she explores the valleys and cliffs of Switzerland and Catalunya on foot. You have to admire Dave’s drone skills, which recently earned him Best in Festival at DroneFest.

3. Fuse

A finalist in the Best Short Film category, Fuse mixes light, white-water kayaking and night… to tremendous visual effect. Dave Wortley – the film’s director – let slip that the footage was actually filmed on a rough part of the Thames. But you’d never guess watching this short, which has a thumping soundtrack to accompany the kayaker’s twists and turns as he heads downstream.

4. A Line Across the Sky

This 40 minute film (trailer below) follows climbers Tommy Caldwell and Alex Honnold on the adventure of their lives: crossing the 4 mile Fitz Traverse in Patagonia. Along with enjoying jaw-dropping scenery and near impossible climbs, you’ll have a giggle at Honnold, who mocks his lack of winter climbing knowledge. Not exactly a situation you want to be in at the top of Fitz Roy, but these guys make it look easy.

5. Mountain Bikes and Bothy Nights

A visual ode to the Scottish tradition of bothying, Alastair Humphreys grabs his bike and blasts around the wild territories of the Highlands. If you haven’t been bothying, this short film will ignite your wanderlust and spur you on to seek out the most remote cottage at the end of the road.