Fresh Cuts 26 Finale

'Aberdeenshire - The Hame of Adventure', celebrates the people, places and passion behind Aberdeenshire's thriving adventure sports scene.

Through a combination of stunning visuals accompanying the lilting voice of North-East Scottish poet and writer, Jo Gilbert, narrating her own poem 'Fa We Are' , Andrew Leinster's film captures the spirit of adventure that makes Aberdeenshire such a special place for outdoor enthusiasts.

An incredibly cinematic film but at its heart, this is a film about people. It highlights the friendships, shared experiences and welcoming communities that form around adventure sports, showing that while the activities themselves may differ, many participants are driven by the same desire to explore, challenge themselves and connect with others.

Andrew wanted to create something that celebrated the broad offer of adventure sports and the unique culture of outdoor recreation in Aberdeenshire. The result is a film that feels both personal and relatable, offering viewers an insight into a community that is passionate about making the most of the incredible natural environment on its doorstep.

The landscapes of Aberdeenshire provide a dramatic backdrop throughout the film, from rolling hills and forests to coastlines and trails. However, while the scenery is stunninly impressive, it is the people featured in the film who remain the focus, bringing warmth, authenticity and character to the story.

We look forward to sharing Andrew's film with a wider audience and celebrating the stories, people and places that make Aberdeenshire's adventure sports community so special.

Bryn Appleton, the youngest of the group, sets out to tell a story that many riders may not have given much thought to before, the people who are there when things go wrong in the outdoors.

His film, focusing on the Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team, offers an honest and authentic insight into the work of the volunteers who respond to incidents across some of Scotland's most popular outdoor recreation areas. Through interviews and thoughtful storytelling, Bryn explores not only what mountain rescue teams do, but why their work matters to everyone who enjoys spending time outdoors.

What makes the film particularly compelling is Bryn's own perspective. As an experienced ultra-endurance rider who spends countless hours exploring remote trails and landscapes, he approached the project from a position many riders will recognise. Prior to making the film, he knew relatively little about how mountain rescue teams operated and, like many people, was surprised to discover that the vast majority of team members are volunteers who freely give their time, skills and expertise to help others.

That sense of discovery became a central theme throughout the project.

Rather than presenting mountain rescue as something distant or only relevant to extreme situations, Bryn's film speaks directly to the outdoor community. It encourages riders to think about their own responsibilities when heading into the hills and highlights the importance of preparation, planning and decision-making.

By creating the film through the lens of his own experience, Bryn created something that feels relatable and genuine. The result is a film that resonates with the very audience most likely to benefit from its message.

'Changing Lives Through Cycling', is a thoughtful and uplifting short documentary by Finlay Anderson that explores how cycling can become a catalyst for personal change.

At its heart, the film tells the stories of three very different individuals whose lives have been positively impacted through cycling, with support from the Scottish Cycling Foundation. While each person's journey is unique, they are connected by a shared experience: finding confidence, opportunity, purpose and community through riding a bike.

Through honest conversations and personal reflections, viewers learn how cycling has played a huge role in their lives. In doing so, the film also highlights the impact of the Scottish Cycling Foundation's work through its three key funding streams: the Braveheart Fund, the Mountain Bike Trail Fund and the Mountain Bike Health Fund.

Rather than focusing solely on cycling itself, Finlay's storytelling centres on people. The bike becomes a vehicle for something much bigger, confidence, connection, wellbeing and the opportunity to experience positive change.

Throughout the production process, Finlay spent dedicated time with each participant, capturing their stories in an authentic and respectful way before bringing them together for the film's final sequence. The result is a documentary that feels personal, genuine and deeply human.

Changing Lives Through Cycling leaves viewers with a simple but important message: a bike can be much more than a means of transport or recreation. For many people, it can be the start of a journey that changes their life.

In his film, Jamie Edmondson, turned his attention to one of the most ambitious and exciting developments in mountain biking and outdoor access in recent years, the UK Trails Project.

His film offers a fascinating insight into a project that aims to transform the way trails are recognised, managed and valued across the United Kingdom. One of the strengths of Jamie's storytelling is his ability to take a complex subject and make it accessible to a wider audience.

Rather than focusing solely on policy or technical detail, he brings the project to life through the people involved and the landscapes that stand to benefit from its success, including our children, the future generation.

The film also demonstrates Jamie's growth as a filmmaker. Tackling a topic with national significance required him to balance information with storytelling, creating a film that informs, inspires and encourages discussion about the future of trails.

The result is a thoughtful and engaging documentary that encourages viewers to think differently about the paths, tracks and trail networks they use every day. It shines a light on the importance of protecting and investing in these spaces, while celebrating the people who dedicate their time and expertise to making them possible.

We look forward to sharing Jamie's film with a wider audience and helping more people discover the vision, ambition and collaborative spirit that sits at the heart of the UK Trails Project.

Jamie could not be with us on the night as he was working in Europe with Sleeper, covering World Cups. His coverage and editing skills can be witnessed through the highly acclaimed 'Shreddits'.

One of the most insightful films to emerge from the Fresh Cuts 2026 programme is Finding Balance, a thoughtful documentary by Monica that explores Trail Therapy from a perspective rarely seen before, that of the practitioners delivering it.

Much of the conversation around Trail Therapy rightly focuses on the participants and the positive outcomes they experience. However, Monica's film takes a different approach, shining a light on the people who make these life-changing experiences possible.

At the heart of Finding Balance are Heather and Ana, two practitioners working within the Tweed Valley Trail Therapy Hub.

By following Heather and Ana, Monica reveals the human side of Trail Therapy. What emerges is a powerful portrait of two individuals who are deeply committed to helping others. Through candid conversations and intimate moments, the film highlights the empathy, patience and professionalism required to support people through challenging periods in their lives.

The film also provides valuable insight into the broader role Trail Therapy plays within communities. By showcasing the experiences of Heather and Ana, viewers gain a better understanding of how outdoor-based interventions can complement traditional support services and create opportunities for positive change.

As a filmmaker, Monica approached the subject with sensitivity and curiosity, allowing the stories to unfold naturally. Her ability to build trust with her contributors results in a film that feels authentic, reflective and deeply personal. Rather than seeking dramatic moments, she captures the quieter interactions and conversations that reveal the true value of the work being undertaken.

By telling the story of Trail Therapy through the eyes of its practitioners, Monica has created a film that offers a fresh perspective on an innovative approach to wellbeing. It is a celebration of compassion, connection and the transformative power of getting outdoors on two wheels.

Finding Balance reminds us that while cycling can change lives, it is often the people guiding the journey who make that change possible.

'Written in the Land' follows a bikepacking journey from Somhairle's home in Glasgow to the summit of Cairngorm Mountain, a place that played a pivotal role in sparking his lifelong interest in the Gaelic language and the stories embedded within Scotland's landscapes.

As a fluent Gaelic speaker and passionate cyclist, Somhairle was uniquely placed to tell a story that goes far beyond a simple adventure film. Through Written in the Land, he invites viewers to experience Scotland not just as a place of stunning scenery, but as a living landscape shaped by centuries of language, folklore and human connection.

The journey unfolds from the urban streets of Glasgow through forests, glens and mountain passes before reaching the Cairngorms. Along the way, the gravel bike becomes more than a mode of transport. It is a tool for exploration, allowing Somhairle to travel slowly enough to engage with the places he passes through, while covering enough ground to reveal the remarkable diversity of Scotland's landscapes.

At the heart of the film is a simple but powerful idea: every place has a story.

Many of Scotland's mountains, rivers, forests and settlements carry Gaelic names that describe the landscape, commemorate historical events or preserve fragments of folklore and local knowledge. Through his journey, Somhairle uncovers these stories and shares the meaning behind the names that many of us pass by without a second thought.

The film reveals how language can act as a map to understanding the land itself. A seemingly ordinary place name becomes a gateway to understanding how previous generations viewed, used and understood the landscape around them. In doing so, Written in the Land offers a fresh perspective on places that may feel familiar, encouraging viewers to look more closely at the world around them.

Throughout the film, Somhairle's passion for Gaelic shines through. However, rather than presenting the language as something distant or academic, he makes it accessible and welcoming. His enthusiasm invites viewers into a rich cultural heritage, demonstrating that Gaelic remains an important and relevant part of modern Scotland.

At the same time, the film serves as a celebration of bikepacking and gravel riding. The freedom of travelling under your own power, carrying everything you need and moving seamlessly through different landscapes is captured beautifully throughout the journey. For those unfamiliar with bikepacking, the film offers an inspiring introduction to a style of adventure that is increasingly attracting riders across Scotland.

What makes Written in the Land particularly compelling is the way it connects these themes together. Cycling, language, history and landscape are not treated as separate subjects but as parts of the same story. Through Somhairle's eyes, viewers discover that understanding Scotland's place names and folklore can deepen our appreciation of the landscapes we ride through, while travelling by bike provides a unique opportunity to engage with those stories in a meaningful way.

Written in the Land showcases Somhairle's ability to combine personal experience with thoughtful storytelling. The result is a film that is both visually stunning and intellectually engaging, an adventure that encourages viewers to explore not only Scotland's landscapes, but also the stories written into every corner of them.

By the time he reaches the summit of Cairn Gorm, the viewer has travelled much further than the physical distance from Glasgow to the Highlands. They have been taken on a journey through language, culture, history and identity, discovering that Scotland's stories are not confined to books or archives, but remain written in the land itself.