Explorers Jan and Herb Conn on a climbing trip in the Needles of South Dakota. We are excited to share photos, video clips and updates as we make more progress on this film! It has been a slow process but the more we’ve learned about the Conns, the more incredible the story has become. Thank you for following! #catchingpinecones #documentary #doc #filmmaking #filmmaker #docfilm #climbing #rockclimbing #caving #spelunking #sd #documentaryfilm #historic #explore #nature
The results are in! Our judges – Paul Hodgson, Hannah Maia, Simon Taylor, and Jimmy Hyland – met last week to deliberate over 105 films and decide the 13 category winners for ShAFF 2026. Let’s start with their picks for the overall Best Films:
GOLD WINNER: Champions of the Golden Valley has garnered more than 42 Jury Prizes & Audience Awards, including 20 Grand Prizes. Well, here’s another for their collection. The film reveals a breathtaking and seldom-seen side of Afghanistan, in a remote region where joy, resilience, and community are forged on the slopes.Equipped with handmade wooden skis and secondhand gear, young athletes from rival villages come together to compete in a ski mountaineering race like no other. Riveting, uplifting and deeply human.
🎥 When to see it: Sunday 22nd March @ 1pm – it’s a feature-length film, with its own screening.
SILVER WINNER: Catching Pinecones. Meet Herb and Jan Conn, legendary explorers that traveled across the US. They pioneered rock climbing in the Needles area of South Dakota and subsequently mapped over 60 miles of nearby Jewel Cave. Their tiny, off-the-grid home was nicknamed the “Conncave” and they embodied the ethics of living simply and sustainably. All approached with an unmatched sense of curiosity, humility and humor. “Paints the most perfect picture of what you truly need to be happy in this life!” Frit Tam, ShAFF Co-Director. We’ve also awarded the film Gold in Best Climb Film and Best Sound.
🎥 When to see it: Saturday 21st March @ 8.30pm – part of our Climb Films 4 screening.
BRONZE WINNER: The Oldest Munro Bagger. In the wake of his beloved wife’s dementia diagnosis, 82-year old Nick Gardner turned to the mountains for comfort – and started walking. Filmed over four years, The Oldest Munro Bagger documents his attempt to summit all 282 of Scotland’s mountains over 3,000 feet high. “Such a beautiful and delicate film. The film makers have managed to echo Nick’s speed of living and thoughtfulness. He is more than inspirational” Simon Taylor, ShAFF judge.
🎥 When to see it: Saturday 21st March @ 10.45am AND Sunday 22nd March @ 6.30pm – part of our Walk Films screenings.
“It’s fascinating, extremely well made and highly engaging to watch. Also has great music recorded by the couple themselves.” WOW! Thank you @sheffieldadventure Film Fest! Best Film - SILVER; Best Climbing Film - GOLD; Best Soundtrack - GOLD Festival dates: March 20-22
FCFF/tc FILM SPOTLIGHT: “Catching Pinecones” is the incredible story of Jan and Herb Conn, pioneering rock climbers and cave explorers who lived life to the fullest on their own terms. Rejecting a conventional lifestyle in pursuit of adventure and fun, the Conns’ story reveals a legacy of renowned discoveries and their philosophies for a simple, well-lived life. Anyone interested in climbing (ahem @elev8climbing ), adventure, or simply learning to live life well on your own terms won’t want to miss this inspiring film. Cinematographer and Editor Parker Michaels-Boyce will be in attendance.
See “Catching Pinecones” on Saturday, May 2 at 10am at @the.alluvion and Sunday, May 3 at 10am at @notjustbooks . Tickets are on sale now at TC.FreshCoastFilm.com! (link in bio)
We hope everyone has a great time at the @nomanslandfilmfestival in Denver this weekend! We are thrilled to have received an Honorable Mention award from the fest, even though they weren’t able to include the film in their program. Jan certainly embodied the spirit of feminism, and we hope her story inspires everyone to overcome gender barriers to follow their dreams.
We are still riding high from @wildandscenicfilmfestival in California - here are a couple photos from @pmbphoto at the festival, including the Honorable Mention trophy rock we received. So great to talk to people about this film and share the Conns’ spirit through these events! Please visit our website (link in bio) and join our mailing list for information about upcoming screenings.
More good news! We are excited to announce that Catching Pinecones will be part of the Sheffield Adventure Film Festival in England, March 20-22! @sheffieldadventure Check their website for tickets if you are interested in attending!
We are honored to have been awarded the top prize at the @rvaeff Film Festival in Richmond, VA this weekend! Catching Pinecones will be screened free to the public at @studiotwothree on Feb 22 at 5:25pm. We hope you can come join us!
As we shake off the snow of winter break and end the first full week of the New Year, we wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for following along on our journey so far! This year we hope to bring Catching Pinecones to more film festivals, connect with communities, and share the Conns’ story. Hope to see you in 2026! ❄
