The Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour will return to Noosa at The J Theatre on Saturday 5 August, for another year of celebrating and honouring adventure women around the world.
With a mission to increase the representation of women in the outdoors and adventure films, thousands of women and men come together annually to inspire and support each other.
This year’s festival is fundraising for Sunshine Coast local Sarah Pendergrass, who is attempting to run the length of Scotland at the end of August.
From running on the trails of Noosa to mapping her own adventures, Sarah’s passion for self-propelled missions on foot or bicycle knows no bounds.
But of course with an adventure like this and in true Gutsy Girls spirit, Sarah will be raising money for a charity, Free to Run.
Free to Run was founded by Canadian ultra-runner and UN Human Rights Lawyer, Stephanie Case, and believes in empowerment through sport; challenging gender norms and supporting the visibility of women in public spaces – especially in areas of conflict including Afghanistan and Iraq, where sport participation for women is often a counter-cultural act.
Like Sarah, this year’s festival sees the inclusion of four homegrown Australian women taking the plunge to do something amazing not only for themselves but the community, the sport, and their families, proving the importance that a healthy adventurous life brings long-lasting fulfilment.
Founder and chief executive officer of the film festival Jemima Robinson said, “This year, we are more determined than ever to break down barriers and encourage more women to pursue their passions in the outdoors. We believe that every woman has the potential to be a gutsy girl and embrace the wonders of the natural world.“
“By fostering a supportive and inclusive environment, we hope to see a significant increase in the number of women participating in outdoor activities and adventure film-making. Our goal is to create lasting impact, encouraging a new generation of strong, independent, and adventurous women.“
From ultra marathon runners Samantha Gash and Jessie Ling’s 50 day journey from east to west Nepal, to one WA woman’s dream to run the famous 1000km Bibbulmun track, to following the journey of a young Canberran girl that goes from conquering world class climbs, to forging new routes in Spain. Each film tells a unique story of perseverance, courage, and the joy of pushing boundaries.
Samantha and Jessie’s goal was not only to cross Nepal on foot, but also raise $100,000 to support World Vision’s programs supporting girls and
women in Nepal.
“I love the premise behind this festival,“ Samantha told Noosa Today.
“More young girls and more women of other ages get to see other women, who are very often very similar to them, choosing to live an outdoor, adventurous, extraordinary life.“
She said there was two main reasons why she chose to take on the 50 day challenge.
“The first was to reach part of myself that I haven’t felt since becoming a mum. Obviously being a mum is actually the biggest adventure of your life. But I used to do expeditions, different but similar to this, prior to being a mum. I wanted to craft this goal and remind myself how strong I could be in that uncertainty. The second reason was I wanted to raise funds to support a female focused initiative in rural Nepal,“ Samantha said.
“The realistic nature is it’s hard doing these kinds of projects even when you don’t have children. I think with my son Harry, the benefit is that I really learnt how to make my time count, as I couldn’t prepare as much as I normally would have pre-motherhood.
“I also kind of said ’Good enough is good enough’ and I think sometimes it is. We require so many thresholds before we think we can do these things. But after being a mum, I’ve dealt with things like sleep deprivation and keeping my composure while my child is having a tantrum, and those things actually count when you’re on expeditions and things aren’t going to plan.“
Samantha said she hoped people see from the film that the foundation of relationships is what can allow you to take on really hard things.
“I encourage anyone, whether you see yourself as adventurous or not, to go and take your family or friends to see this film festival and amazing women taking on challenges,“ she said.
This year’s film festival is a must-see event for everyone, seeing inspiration, entertainment and a fresh perspective.
Sarah Pendergrass will be attending the screening at The J Theatre on Saturday 5 August for a live Q and A.
For tickets, visit thej.com.au/gutsy-girls-2023/
