Holmlands Adventure Film Festival 2026: Award Winners Announced

We're delighted to announce the award winners of Holmlands Adventure Film Festival 2026.

This year's Official Selection brought together an incredible collection of independent films from filmmakers around the world, exploring adventure in all its forms — from mountains, skiing and climbing to cycling, exploration, conservation and deeply personal stories of resilience and human endeavour.

Choosing our award winners was no easy task, but after carefully considering the Official Selection, we're delighted to recognise the following films and filmmakers for their outstanding contribution to this year's festival...

Best of Festival Award

Best Day Ever

Directed by Ben Knight & Berne Broudy

Runtime: 47:56

Judges' Citation:

"Our highest honour of the festival, Best Day Ever is poignant, fun, meaningful, adventurous, emotional and uplifting in equal measure. Through the stories of Greg Durso and Allie Bianchi, the film explores the challenges of disability alongside the freedom, friendship and independence that adventure can bring. With warmth, humour and genuine human connection, it challenges perceptions of what is possible, celebrates the power of community and opens up an important conversation around accessibility within mountain biking and beyond. An inspiring and beautifully crafted film that captures the very essence of adventure filmmaking."

Film Overview:

Best Day Ever follows the stories of adaptive mountain bikers Greg Durso and Allie Bianchi as they navigate the relentless challenges of their disabilities and embrace the tremendous support, friendship and joy they find in their rural Vermont riding community. Allie and Greg navigate disability and regain independence with humor, attitude, and grit on mountain bike trails that dismantle ableism, build community, and become a blueprint for trails anywhere.

Best Feature Film Award

UNTAMED

Directed by Zimy Da Kid Zimmermann

Runtime: 01:00:00

Judges' Citation:

"“A fascinating insight into an extraordinary and unconventional sport, UNTAMED stood out not only for its subject matter but also for the quality and creativity of its filmmaking. Following Fabio Minnig’s pursuit of freedom across some of Europe’s most spectacular roads, the film goes beyond the adrenaline of downhill skateboarding to explore the passion, risk, doubt and perseverance that drive him to pursue his ambitions. Visually compelling and deeply engaging, UNTAMED offers audiences a rare glimpse into a world few will have experienced themselves, while capturing the determination and commitment required to turn a personal passion into an ambitious creative vision.”

Film Overview:

UNTAMED is a documentary that follows the journey of Swiss downhill skateboarder Fabio Minnig in his quest for freedom along some of Europe’s most spectacular roads. Over the course of three years, he and filmmaker Zimy Da Kid traveled across three countries to capture much more than a sport: a human adventure driven by passion, risk, doubt, and perseverance. Produced largely through self-funding by Fabio Minnig and Zimy Da Kid, the film is the result of years of dedication, sacrifice, and determination to bring this vision to life. Blending speed, breathtaking landscapes, and moments of introspection, UNTAMED explores what drives some people to pursue their dreams no matter the cost.

Best Short Film Award

Dick's-A-Thon

Directed by Dylan Young

Runtime: 18:06

Judges' Citation:

"Fun, emotional, inspiring and uplifting, Dick’s-A-Thon immediately connected with us and proved a thoroughly engaging short film from beginning to end. By capturing Seattle’s wonderfully unconventional marathon tradition, the film goes beyond the spectacle of running to reveal the friendship, humour and sense of community at its heart. With a touching purpose rooted in honouring a friend and giving back to the outdoor community, Dick’s-A-Thon manages to be both entertaining and genuinely meaningful. A warm, spirited and memorable film that captures the joy of both running and adventure, and the people we share these experiences with."

Film Overview:

26 Miles, 5 Meals, 1 Wild Tradition. Learn about Seattle's wackiest marathon and it's mission to honor a friend, and give back to the outdoors.

Best Director Award (Feature)

No One Rides Alone

Directed by Matthew Jenke

Runtime: 01:40:00

Judges' Citation:

"A brilliantly produced film, No One Rides Alone is an impressive achievement in both storytelling and cinematography. Following a team of cyclists as they retrace the 1955 Tour de France route across 3,200 kilometres of France, Matthew Jenke has captured a remarkable journey with a consistently high standard of filmmaking. The scale and duration of the expedition presented a considerable challenge, yet the film maintains a strong visual identity throughout, bringing the landscapes, physical demands and emotional highs and lows of the journey vividly to life. Alongside its cinematic qualities, the film shines an important light on illness, motivation and resilience, delivering a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when we refuse to let our circumstances define what is possible. An accomplished and ambitious piece of filmmaking that demonstrates exceptional commitment both behind and in front of the camera."

Film Overview:

A team of cyclists retraces the 1955 Tour de France route while one rider lives with a rare neurological condition. As fatigue and illness set in, endurance, teamwork, and resilience are tested over 3,200 kilometres around France.

Best Director Award (Short)

Volver a mí

Directed by Max Jabs

Runtime: 09:54

Judges' Citation:

"A beautifully told and uplifting story, Volver a mí stood out for its engaging storytelling and exceptionally high standard of production. Director Max Jabs demonstrates a strong visual and editorial sensibility, with thoughtful cinematography and carefully considered editing choices that draw the audience closer to Gonzalo and his personal journey. Rather than simply documenting his return to sport, the film creates an intimate connection with its subject, allowing us to experience the uncertainty, resilience and joy of finding a new sense of identity after life has changed completely. Warm, authentic and visually compelling, Volver a mí is a beautifully crafted portrait of resilience and the power of finding your way back to yourself."

Film Overview:

Gonzalo’s life changed in an instant after a climbing accident led to the loss of his leg. But his story does not end there. Told through Gonzalo’s own voice, Volver a mí follows his journey back to sport, confidence and joy. An intimate portrait of resilience, identity and returning to yourself after life has changed completely.

Festival Favourite Award

A Baffin Vacation, Love on Ice

Directed by Rush Sturges & Skip Armstrong

Runtime: 26:15

Judges' Citation:

"An ambitious and thoroughly entertaining adventure, A Baffin Vacation, Love on Ice impressed us with its beautiful cinematography, creative editing, heart and humour. What makes the achievement particularly remarkable is that this entire adventure was self-filmed, with Erik and Sarah documenting an incredibly demanding 69-day expedition through one of the world’s most remote and spectacular landscapes. From kite skiing and climbing to crossing glaciers and searching for new rivers to kayak, the scale and variety of the journey is extraordinary, yet the filmmaking never loses its sense of fun or the personalities at its heart. A beautifully crafted, hugely ambitious and genuinely entertaining adventure that captures not only the challenge of the expedition, but the joy of being out there and experiencing it together. It left us wanting to pack our bags for Baffin Island immediately."

Film Overview:

Join adventures Erik and Sarah on yet another epic Baffin Vacation as they kite ski north along the remote coastline of Baffin. Over their 69 day holiday they ski mountains, climb an epic big wall, and cross a glacier in search of new rivers to white water kayak.

Spirit of Adventure Award

La Trace

Directed by Clément Lefer

Runtime: 11:46

Judges' Citation:

"Awarded to a film that best embodies exploration, courage and creativity, La Trace is an inspiring story of overcoming injury through adventure and turning what could have been a tragedy into a remarkable story of achievement."

Film Overview:

Five months after falling thirty meters into an ice crevasse and being rescued by helicopter, Arnaud chose to return. La Trace follows his attempt at the Summum Mont Blanc: 3.8 km of cold-water swimming, 180 km of cycling with 3,000 meters of elevation gain, and the ascent of Mont Blanc from Saint-Gervais, nearly 4,000 meters of vertical climb. All in a single day.

Community Impact Award

Best Day Ever

Directed by Ben Knight & Berne Broudy

Runtime: 47:56

Judges' Citation:

"Awarded to a project raising awareness or driving positive change, Best Day Ever addresses an important subject with warmth, humour and an infectious sense of adventure. The film takes a positive lead in opening up conversations around inclusion and accessibility within the mountain biking community and beyond."

Film Overview:

Best Day Ever follows the stories of adaptive mountain bikers Greg Durso and Allie Bianchi as they navigate the relentless challenges of their disabilities and embrace the tremendous support, friendship and joy they find in their rural Vermont riding community. Allie and Greg navigate disability and regain independence with humor, attitude, and grit on mountain bike trails that dismantle ableism, build community, and become a blueprint for trails anywhere.

Best Storytelling Award

What on Earth were they doing up there?

Directed by Clement Guillot & Cecile Moreau

Runtime: 01:01:16

Judges' Citation:

"Awarded for exceptional narrative craft and emotional resonance, What on Earth were they doing up there? brings a fascinating new perspective to a well-established adventure genre. Fantastic narration and thoughtful editing combine to create a compelling and distinctive story."

Film Overview:

The Hauslabjoch glacier, on the Italian-Austrian border, has melted due to climate change. In 1991, it released the mummified body of a Neolithic man, a man 5,300 years old, named Ötzi, after the Ötztal Alps, where he was discovered. Reading an article on this subject one day ignited Clement’s imagination.

What was he doing up there?

A good question for Otzi, but maybe also a good one for him, his friends and the people met in the mountains. Skis on his shoulder, he left the dead-end road of his home in Annecy, France with in front of him, the Alps to cross towards Tyrol in Austria.

A long time to understand this glacier that has melted, to discuss with the dead ice man, and to bring back a poetic testimony about what still needs to be defended up there and down here.

Special Recognition Award

Birdlife

Directed by Léopold le Grelle

Runtime: 34:52

Judges' Citation:

"Our Special Recognition Award celebrates an outstanding contribution to adventure storytelling. Birdlife offers a fascinating insight into a daring subculture, combining extraordinary footage with interviews that bring a distinctly human perspective to the story, moving beyond spectacle to explore the people behind the adventure."

Film Overview:

Birdlife is an international documentary exploring the evolution of modern wingsuit flying through the stories of nine of the sport's most influential pioneers and athletes, spanning multiple generations and nationalities.

A huge congratulations to all of this year's award winners, and a sincere thank you to every filmmaker who submitted a film to Holmlands Adventure Film Festival 2026.

This year's programme demonstrated just how broad, creative and powerful adventure filmmaking can be. From extraordinary expeditions and technical pursuits to stories of inclusion, resilience, community and our relationship with the natural world, the Official Selection offered something very different from film to film.

It was a privilege to share these stories with audiences across our live screening events.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the screenings, supported the festival and continues to champion independent filmmaking.

The festival continues online, with the full 2026 Official Selection available to watch through the Holmlands Adventure Film Festival player, with submissions also now open for our 2027 festival. Click the icon below to submit your entries via FilmFreeway.