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Sheffield Adventure Film Festival have been underground to work on a very special project that brings to life one of the most significant events in UK caving history. Covering the attempt to rescue caver Neil Moss from Peak Cavern, Castleton in 1959, The Honour Of Being Human is an immersive audio-visual story to be played in the Crypt of Sheffield Cathedral.

• The Honour Of Being Human will play at ShAFF’s Spirit Of Adventure event at Sheffield Cathedral on 2-3 September, alongside adventure film sessions and live storytelling.
• Designed to be seen and heard in the atmospheric surroundings of Sheffield Cathedral, the event presents a unique curation of adventure films and stories that celebrate the spirit of adventure often found in surprising people and places.
• The weekend will see film screenings in amazing spaces, a specially-recorded caving-themed immersive audio-visual story and exhibition in the the crypt, and live storytelling from writer, comedian and presenter Niall Grimes.
• Tickets are on sale now, accompanied Under 18s are FREE in the daytime on Saturday, and half price at evening film screenings.

THE HONOUR OF BEING HUMAN

Covering the attempt to rescue young caver Neil Moss from Peak Cavern, Castleton in 1959, The Honour Of Being Human brings to life one of the most significant events in UK caving history. The story is taken from an article written by George Cooper which was originally published in Descent magazine in 1984, then featured in High magazine’s 100th edition in 1991. Back then it left such an impression on ShAFF founder Matt Heason that when the team started planning a new caving-themed event he just had to bring it back to light.

The original article has been abridged, narrated and recorded by ShAFF co director Anna Paxton. As part of the process, Matt and Anna delved deep into a cave system in the Peak District to capture the underground sounds which form the soundtrack of an audio-visual story designed to be seen and heard in the unique environment of Sheffield Cathedral’s Crypt. The caving and rescue community have never forgotten the events of more than 60 years ago, and many have provided images that will be projected onto the walls of the Crypt while the story plays. There will be a collection for Derbyshire Cave Rescue at the event.

Audiences can experience The Honour of Being Human exclusively at ShAFF’s Spirit of Adventure event at Sheffield Cathedral on Sat 3 Sep. Using ‘silent disco’ technology it will be played every 30 minutes from 2pm-6pm, alongside an Adventure Bites film loop on the main screen and live storytelling from Niall Grimes in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit. Caving Film The Rescue will screen in the Crypt in the evening, while the main screen in the Cathedral will show the Best of ShAFF 2022.

ShAFF’S SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE

Alongside The Best of ShAFF 2022 the film programme includes titles that have not previously screened at ShAFF, including feature films RIVER (Friday 2 September), THE RESCUE, and a new Adventure Bites loop, as well as The Ario Dream on Friday. To add to the atmosphere the Cathedral will open their bar, and local independent street food vendors will return to the courtyard outside.

Festival co director Anna Paxton says: “Adventurers often walk a fine line between tragedy and hope, and as we examine what ‘adventure’ means in today’s world, this incredibly moving story from more than 60 years ago is as relevant as ever.”

Festival co director Matt Heason says: “Sheffield Cathedral’s incredible spaces allow us to create completely unique storytelling experiences. We’ve ensured families can enjoy Spirit of Adventure together by offering free entry to accompanied under 18s in the daytime, and half price entry to the evening films.”