It has been a roller coaster of a year, but that hasn’t stopped South African trail runners from getting into the outdoors – and filming their trail runs.

You can join the fun. Submit your film in the Documentary, Event, and Shorts category for 2021’s Trail Film Awards. View the 2018 and 2019 submissions for inspiration.

Trail Film Awards Submissions

Backyard Runners During the COVID19 Pandemic (2:02) by Roughing It With Ruth

Hilarious mockumentary about the Garden Running mania which hit South Africans during hard lockdown.

How to train your viking (6:40) by Dawn Nunes

Dawn Nunes and Michelle Lipke take their time at the Viking Run in Shongweni, dressing up properly and playing the part.

Sunrise run Stellenbosch mountain (3:05) by Wouter van den Heever

Three friends (and a dog) enjoy banter and Stellenbosch trails on a chilly morning, with an upbeat soundtrack.

Drakensberg Northern Trail 2020 (1:59) by Dawn Nunes

Short film of the 2020 DNT in summer.

Exploring the trails of George (2:43) by Driaan de Clercq

Visual exploration of forests and mountains, with sweeping landscapes and beautiful details.

How to enter

• Email your film’s URL on Youtube, Vimeo, or another online platform to us by 30 June 2021. More entry details and rules below.
• NB: One entry per filmmaker per category.

The 2020/2021 Trail Film Awards will showcase trail running films produced by anyone, anywhere. However, only non-professional South African citizens resident in SA are eligible for the sponsor prizes.

International filmmakers and professional filmmakers (local and international) are encouraged to submit their works into the international category, but are only eligible for Honorary Mentions, and not prizes.

Trail Film Awards Categories

• Documentary: Factual insights into a run, runner, club, or aspect of trail running. No time limit.
• Event: Documenting a trail running event. No time limit.
• Short: A film two minutes long, or shorter, on any trail running genre or topic.
• Animation: Create an animated film featuring trail running. No time limit.
• Fiction: Invent and perform a comedy, mystery, drama, or horror. No time limit.

Rules and Dates

Rules

• Films produced between 1 January 2020 and 30 June 2021 are eligible.
• Submit one film entry per category.
• You have to be the creator of each film submitted.
• TRAIL reserves the right to classify films into any of the above if necessary.
• TRAIL also reserves the right to declare a category non-competitive should insufficient entries be received for that category.
• Only SA citizens resident in South Africa are eligible for sponsor prizes.
• Professional SA filmmakers as well as regular international entries are eligible for Honorary Mentions in their respective classes, but only if more than four entries are received per category.
• The winners will be chosen by a panel of South African trail running film experts.
• Judge and voting decisions are final.

Dates

• Final submission date is midday on Wednesday 30 June 2021.
• Winners announced 8am Friday 30 July 2021.

Winners from the 2019 Trail Film Awards

Documentary winner The Middle Challenge [Pondoland] (12:52) by The Middle

Two Durbanite friends embark on an adventure along the Wild Coast. To start is easy, but life’s twists and turns shape us.

Our judge said: It was engaging to see life-long friends Travis and Garth take on their personal 100km challenge through beautiful Pondoland, with obstacles lurking around every turn. The Middle’s idea is quite philosophical, but pushing towards the practical. It is a joy to see the pair realise that their challenge would have been impossible without the kindness of friends and strangers along the way. It exemplifies the community spirit, and the togetherness South Africans are capable of. Warning: will cause wanderlust! I also appreciated not having to watch the pair eat breakfast and drive to the destination before the action starts.

Events winner WEAK AT THE KNEES (14:04) by Dean Oelschig

Self-deprecating documentary to prove that an average runner can finish Otter African Trail Run if they train hard enough and are tough enough.

Our judge said: It is well shot and edited, structurally sound, and they attempt to deal with some strong topics and motivations. This film and 100 Mile Grind are the only two films in this category that invested time into letting the viewer know more about the characters and the nature of the events.

Shorts winner Finding Peace on the Trail (2:10) by Dawn Nunes

A creative portrayal of Durban physiotherapist and runner Dawn Nunes’ injury and recovery, with local band Habit To providing the rousing soundtrack.

Our judge said: The Shorts category was extremely competitive and took hours of thought and debate with other judges to decide on the winner. I felt that Finding Peace distinguished itself by showing more planning and thought with a strong central theme that runners relate to: injury. It also ended strongly with a clear message, that everything we do as trail runners (and really, as people) slots together in the end. I love the heel-click jump of joy at the end and the way it fades to black to indicate closure.

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