2012 Banff Mountain Film Festival winner: Crossing the Ice

Posted: Nov 06, 2012 05:31 pm EST

(Newsdesk) At this year's Banff Mountain Film Festival, the documentary, Crossing the Ice, featuring Cas and Jonesy on their South Pole return ski, took three awards, including the Grand Prize.

The documentary won the Adventure and Exploration category, the People's Choice Award and the Grand Prize.

During the 2011-12 ski season on Antarctica the Australian duo, James Castrission and Justin Jones (aka Cas and Jonesy) man-hauled all their gear, food and fuel unassisted (no resupplies) and unsupported (no kites/cars) from the coast of Antarctica at Hercules Inlet to the South Pole and back.

They completed the 2260 km journey in 89 days; traveling 62 days to the Geographic South Pole and 27 days back to Hercules Inlet.

James and Justin commented on filming during this expedition, "With no film crew, limited time (every moment we were filming and not hauling was reducing our chances of success in Antarctica) and filming in the cold was an absolute mission to say the least! Some days we really questioned whether it was worth but now we reflect on the footage and are super proud of what we shot."

Comments Banff Mountain Film Festival jury members:

“We found the humour and humanity in the face of incredible adversity an important element in this film. What could have become a competition, evolved into a greater example of camaraderie and friendship — reflecting the true spirit of the Banff Mountain Festival. ”
— 2012 Jury member Tommy Heinrich

“We found the humour and humanity in the face of incredible adversity an important element in this film. What could have become a competition, evolved into a greater example of camaraderie and friendship — reflecting the true spirit of the Banff Mountain Festival. ”
— 2012 Jury member Tommy Heinrich

“The category for Best Film on Exploration and Adventure had plenty of excellent contenders, but there was one film that shone above the rest. Crossing the Ice encapsulates the true spirit of adventure that this award was designed to embrace. This is a film with perfect story telling featuring incredible characters — a 'bro-mance'. It’s a story that conveyed unbridled enthusiasm, humour, and heartbreak created by the filmmakers and the loveable lunatics who walked unaided across Antarctica to the South Pole and back.”
— 2012 Banff Mountain Film Festival Jury member Dale Templar

DVD purchase

Crossing the Ice documentary can be purchased here.

Crossing the Ice teaser:




On January 13th, 2008 James Castrission and Justin Jones completed a 2000 km kayak paddle across the Tasman Sea.("The Ditch") from Foster, NSW, Australia to New Plymouth, New Zealand in 62 days.

Below experts from their 'Crossing The Ditch" documentary, which previously won the Best Film On Exploration And Adventure at a Banff Film Festival::



Related links:

Armchair travel, ExWeb interview with James Castrission: “In this book I wanted the reader to live and breathe the good, the bad and the ugly.”

Antarctica world (and sportsmanship) record: Aleks Gamme crosses finish line with Cas & Jonesy

AdventureStats: Antarctica 2011/12

Ice wounds: Antarctica battle scars in tales and pictures

Tasman Sea Victory


#Polar