We are pleased to announce that ‘Farming on the Edge’ has won the best documentary award at the Sunderland Short Film Festival. This short film was produced by the North Pennines National Landscape team in partnership with Film on the Brian.
‘Farming on the Edge’ follows Paul & Jen Johnson, Raby Estate tenants, for a year of their farm in Upper Teesdale in the North Pennines National Landscape, and explores their life farming with nature in this remarkable landscape. This powerful film highlights the value of nature-friendly farming methods and how this approach encourages wildlife to flourish.
Paul Johnson, said “I wanted to make this film to show that you can farm alongside nature and that nature and farming can compete with each other.”
Chris Woodley-Stewart, Director, North Pennines National Landscape said “We would like to thank the National Lottery Heritage Fund for supporting this work, as part of our ‘Tees-Swale: naturally connected programme. This wonderful film is an insight into the reality of farming in the North Pennines and the daily challenges farmers face in what can be a harsh place to work on the land, especially in winter. Through Tees-Swale we’re working to share farmers’ voices and show how they are at the forefront of nature recovery and Paul is a natural and authentic on camera sharing his experiences as he is in ‘real life’. The team has really enjoyed bringing him and Jen to this project, and we’ve also been lucky, to have the opportunity to commission and support an outstanding filmmaker in Matthew Wood”
Filmmaker, Matthew Wood, from the Film on the Brain, said, “It has been a pleasure to work with Paul exploring his connection with the land and the importance of traditional farming. I’ve enjoyed capturing his story through his own words and experiences and I’m so pleased that Farming on the Edge has been recognised as the best documentary at the Sunderland Short Film Festival”
This was the tenth year of the Sunderland Film Festival and over 1,000 films were submitted with 160 films being shown.
Farming on the Edge will be shown at preview screenings across the North Pennines later this year.
Website: www.northpennines.org.uk
