Please note: Entries are now closed. Keep an eye out for the Women in Adventure submissions on BMC TV.

The deadline for the fourth annual BMC TV Women in Adventure Film Competition is fast approaching, so if you’re umming and ahhing about entering your film, here are four reasons why you should:

1. Win cash prizes

The overall winner of this year’s film competition will receive £600 to fund their next adventure (or think of all the micro-adventures that sum could send you on!). We’ll also be awarding a second place prize of £300 to the runner up, and both the ‘most watched’ film and judge’s ‘special mention’ will pocket £150.

2. Showcase your film at some epic outdoor film festivals

The winning film will be screened at Sheffield Adventure Film Festival (ShAFF) and Kendal Mountain Festival, making this competition a fantastic opportunity for a budding filmmaker to gain exposure! On top of this, the winner will bag themselves free entry into the Banff Mountain Film Competition.

Keep an eye out for our Women in Adventure event at ShAFF (Sheffield, 9-11 March 2018), where we’ll be revealing the winners.

3. Increase the number of outdoorsy women on the big screen

In 2014, just one fifth of the films screened at ShAFF featured female protagonists, or were made by women. We need your help to change this figure.

Director of ShAFF, Matt Heason, said “ShAFF is behind this competition because we think that it's really important to see the gender imbalance of outdoor and adventure films balanced, and ultimately to see the number of participants also balanced. We have seen over the years that there is an imbalance, and that it is slowly moving in the right direction. Three years ago we decided to do something concrete about it and introduced the Women in Adventure panel at ShAFF.”

Womenclimb Founder and Editor in Chief, Emily Pitts, said “We know that women are doing very adventurous things in the UK and round the world, but this isn’t always reflected on screen. Anyone can make a film – there is more access now than ever before to the equipment you need to create a compelling short film. Showing the world the power of adventure through the eyes of women and showcasing women’s achievements are what this competition is about.”

4. Inspire fellow female adventurers

According to the Active People Survey 10 (Sport England, October 2015 – September 2016), only 31.9% of women partake in a sporting activity each week. The BMC TV Women in Adventure Film Competition not only inspires women to get out and be active, but also supports and encourages them to share their adventures.

Your film could inspire women to follow in your footsteps and go on some adventures of their own. Who knows, they might even make a film too!

How do I enter?

Download the submission guidelines and entry form

Send a Dropbox link (or similar) to tamaris@thebmc.co.uk using the subject line “Women in Adventure Film Competition”, accompanied by the entry form

Download the judging criteria

Deadline for submission is midday (GMT) Monday 15 January 2018

WATCH: the trailer for #WAF18:



What is the competition?

The competition is for amateur or professional filmmakers to make a short film about the adventures of outdoor women, and we'd especially welcome films where women are behind the camera as well as in front of it. We want to be inspired by films of women enjoying the outdoor and mountain environment.

The entries will be streamed on BMC TV in early 2018 and shared on the BMC's social channels.

Who are the judges?

The judging panel will consist of Claire Carter (Film officer, Kendal Mountain Festival), Rich Heap (Film director, Slackjaw) and Emily Pitts (Founder and Editor in Chief, WomenClimb).

WATCH: the winning film from 2017: Three Women and The Three Old Men

Vicki Mayes, winner of last year’s competition, said “Our crew were all really chuffed to win the competition! We are also excited to donate the prize money to Urban Uprising, a Scottish charity who provide opportunities for at risk youth in climbing. After volunteering with the charity last summer, we were able to see the difference this money will make to the lives of young people. Although our sea stack challenge is over, it is great to see that we can still raise money and awareness through our wee film! Thanks BMC!!”

Chief judge Emily Pitts said “What a year for the Women in Adventure film competition. As a judge, it was amazing to see so many women having fun on their adventures. The winning film 'Three Women and the Three Old Men', was nicely shot, with an engaging story and great sound - exactly what we were looking for in the competition. We are already excited for next year and encourage everyday adventurers to get started on their film creations.”

As the climbing walls, crags and mountains start to open, we wanted to say thanks to every BMC member who supported 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 have made it without you.

If you liked what we did, then tell your friends about us: www.thebmc.co.uk/join

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