Creating engaging motorcycle footage is far from effortless. It’s a constant balancing act between fully experiencing the ride and capturing visuals that draw viewers in. Yet great visuals are only one piece of the puzzle. Strong storytelling elevates raw clips into something memorable, weaving together carefully chosen soundtracks, considered narration, and thoughtful colour grading. It’s in the edit where these elements come alive, transforming scattered moments on the journey into films that people can genuinely connect with.
Regular readers of my blog will know that honing my own motorcycle filmmaking skills is an ongoing passion. With that in mind, I set off yesterday for Kendal with a couple of friends to attend the Adventure Motorcycle Film Festival. The forecast had looked bleak from the start, so we reluctantly traded two wheels for four and made the journey by car instead. By early afternoon we’d arrived, checked in, and headed straight to the venue.
The festival took place at the Brewery Arts Centre, right in the centre of Kendal. It’s an ideal setting for something like this – big enough to host a full day’s programme, yet compact enough to feel atmospheric and personal. Proceedings ran from 2pm through until 11pm, with each session made up of two or three films, covering a broad mix of adventure riding stories from around the world.
Between showings there was time to grab a drink, talk through favourite moments and meet other riders and visitors to the event. This is the first time this event has been ran, so the sense of shared experience was unmistakable.
As I settled into my seat to watch the films, I made a conscious effort to approach each one with an open mind. Rather than gravitating toward the styles of riding or filmmaking I naturally prefer, I wanted to judge every film on its own merits. Creating a compelling motorcycle adventure film is no small feat, and it felt important to recognise the unique challenges each filmmaker faced – particularly how they balanced meaningful storytelling with the unpredictable realities of life on the road.
Unlike controlled studio productions, motorcycle journeys unfold in ever-changing environments. Remote locations, shifting weather, rough terrain and limited access to equipment or support all add layers of complexity. Filmmakers must capture high-quality footage while simultaneously navigating traffic, trails or unfamiliar landscapes. When you’re riding in demanding conditions, there’s little margin for error – either on the road or behind the camera.
What makes the genre even more challenging is its reliance on authenticity. Motorcycle adventure films are built on real experiences that can’t be scripted or easily recreated. Mechanical breakdowns, border crossings, cultural differences and sheer physical fatigue don’t just shape the narrative – they actively disrupt the filmmaking process. Success therefore depends on adaptability, patience and resilience, as much as technical skill.
It’s this combination of creative vision, physical endurance and a commitment to documenting genuine moments that makes motorcycle adventure filmmaking both demanding and deeply rewarding. With that in mind, and with great respect for the craft involved – I’d like to introduce some of my favourite short films from the 2026 Adventure Motorcycle Film Festival.
Uganda by Motorcycle – People’s Choice Winner
One of the most talked-about films of the day was Uganda by Motorcycle, directed by Danny Lilwall and documenting his journey across Uganda with Peter Roberts. It went on to win the People’s Choice Award, and it wasn’t difficult to see why.
The film’s strength lies in its openness. What began as an exciting overseas adventure quickly shifted when the bikes they were expecting to use were replaced with far less confidence-inspiring alternatives. From that point on, the journey became beautifully unpredictable. Breakdowns in remote areas, improvised roadside repairs and close encounters with wildlife all added to the sense that anything could happen at any moment.
Rather than smoothing over the mishaps, the film leans into them. The humour feels genuine, the setbacks feel real and the Ugandan landscape provides a stunning yet challenging backdrop. It’s an honest portrayal of adventure riding – the kind where plans unravel and the experience becomes richer because of it.
This is one of those films that you can’t help but enjoy, Danny’s character shines throughout and really adds to the overall feel of the film.
Give Uganda by Motorcycle a watch, I promise it will make you smile.
West of Santander
Although Uganda by Motorcycle secured the public vote, my own highlight was West of Santander, a film created by Nick Jacobs, better known as Project Biker. It came second in the People’s Choice standings.
This film is probably closest to the types of films I want to make myself but it got my vote as the overall production quality and story telling just stood out to me when compared to the other films at the festival.
West of Santander is primarily filmed in northern Spain, following sections of the Trans Euro Trail through the Picos de Europa mountains and surrounding areas. The film documents Nick on a challenging ride through rugged, mountainous terrain, where steep climbs and remote trails create the physical test of the journey. However, it’s the emotional depth of the story that truly stands out. Alongside the riding, Nick shares personal reflections and struggles, giving the film a thoughtful and often deeply moving quality.
Alongside the more emotional moments, there was also a touch of humour – because, let’s be honest, finding yourself in awkward or sticky situations is often part of the magic of travelling. After all, we all end up feeling a bit stuck in the mud at some point.
Ultimately, this film captures the breathtaking vistas along the route while also offering a glimpse into the filmmaker’s inner thoughts, frustrations, and reflections that emerge during solo travel. The result is a powerful, heartfelt piece that is both thoughtfully crafted and visually captivating. The scenery of the Picos is stunning, the soundtrack is carefully selected, and the narration blends seamlessly with the visuals to strengthen the overall story – an impressive achievement to bring together.
Take a look at West of Santander and prepare to experience the beauty of the Picos, along with plenty of humility and emotion from Nick throughout.
Yalla Habibi! – Chasing a World Record
Another major highlight was the screening of Yalla Habibi!, a fast-paced documentary centred on an attempt to break the motorcycle world circumnavigation record. The film follows Ryan Kluftinger – widely known as Ryan FortNine – alongside filmmaker Edwin El Bainou.
Their objective was ambitious: to complete a global circumnavigation in just 19 days. The challenge involved covering five major legs across multiple continents, all while managing flights, border crossings and the inevitable complications that come with such an undertaking. They chose Ducati Multistrada V4 machines for the attempt, purpose-built for serious long-distance riding.
The result is a gripping and suspenseful look at what it truly takes to chase a record at that level. It’s not just about speed; it’s about coordination, strategy, and mental resilience. As exhaustion creeps in and the stakes grow higher, the bond between the riders and filmmaker becomes a driving force in the narrative.
The film weaves high-pressure moments with instances of camaraderie, revealing both the challenges and the determination needed to accomplish such an ambitious goal.
Yalla Habibi! went on to be awarded Best Film by the AMFF judging panel.
Note: At the time of publishing this blog, Yalla Habibi! is a paid film, but you can watch the trailer below and decide whether you want to spend a little of your hard-earned money to see if Ryan and the crew succeed in their quest to circumnavigate the globe in record time.
The AMFF – More Than Just Films
For a first-year event, the Adventure Motorcycle Film Festival achieved something truly impressive – it fostered a genuine sense of community around motorcycle filmmaking.
Outside the main theatre, there were breakout spaces featuring various sponsor pop-up stands, writers showcasing their stories, and, of course, the usual selection of food and drink.
During the breaks, I caught up with several people I had previously met at other motorcycle events, and it was also great to finally meet some of those I had only previously connected with online.
The films themselves were about far more than motorcycles or travel; they explored themes of determination, adaptability, and curiosity. Each film showcased at the festival approached the appeal of adventure riding in its own unique way. It wasn’t simply about adventure bikes travelling across the world, but about the stories, the people, the passion, and the adventures that riding a motorcycle can create – whatever form those two wheels may take.
A special mention must also go to the organisers — the event was created and hosted by the teams behind the Trail and Adventure Motorbike Podcast and the Reel Riders podcast, both widely recognised for bringing their guests’ stories to life within the adventure riding community. Together, they delivered a strong first effort and should be proud of what they achieved this year. They also showed great humility by actively seeking feedback from the audience, helping them continue to refine and improve the festival format in the years ahead.
Kickstarting My Film Making Journey
For the past few years, I’ve been producing motorcycle content when I could grab time in the evenings and on weekends, all while working full-time as a CEO in the tech world. At times, it’s felt like leading a double life – switching between boardroom decisions and backroad rides. This has meant that content creation has only lived in the margins of my week: filming rides, telling stories, building a community, and trying to bottle the essence of my motorcycling adventures, all alongside the responsibilities of a career and family life.
Last year, a broken hand forced me off the bike for a long period too, it did give me time to focus on the fundamentals: studying filmmaking ideas, getting the most from my equipment. however, there’s still no substitute for simply doing it. This was reinforced during a conversation with one of the festivals’ hosts, Simon Josey of the Reel Riders Podcast, he emphasised this importance of just getting out and making content. He’s absolutely right – you never know when you’ll capture the perfect moment for your next story or short film, but you won’t capture it if you don’t get out there and press record.
Fortunately, a recent shift in my professional life has given me the space to reinvigorate my own content creation and filmmaking. Rather than squeezing it in around a demanding day job, I can now weave it into my everyday routine – giving ideas the time and attention they deserve.
My long-term aim is to continue developing every aspect of my content and website and see where the journey leads. But if I’m honest, filmmaking is what’s really captured my imagination. I’d love to begin producing short motorcycle films of my own – ideally in the spirit of those showcased at the Adventure Motorcycle Film Festival – telling stories that resonate not just with riders, but with anyone who appreciates adventure, challenge and the human experience behind the handlebars.
Final Thoughts – Was I Inspired?
As the event came to a close and my friends and I headed back to the hotel for a few beers before bed, the conversation naturally turned to the films we had watched and what had stood out to us. For me, the main takeaway was that the festival had reignited that urge to get back out on the road – to ride more, film more, and create more. It also renewed my ambition to make short motorcycle films, capturing stories from both road and trail. Who knows, perhaps one day I’ll see them shown on a big screen, just like the one in Kendal.
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