Neil Gresham to present his new film, ‘Straight 8s’

One of the UK’s best all-round climbers, Neil has been at the cutting edge of the British climbing scene for over two decades, performing at a high standard in disciplines ranging from sport climbing to deep water soloing, winter and traditional climbing.

We’re delighted to welcome Neil to Base Camp Festival 2025 to present his new film ‘Straight 8s’, in which he teams up with Belgian sport/competition climber Anak Verhoeven to take on a unique, multi-discipline '24/8s' challenge in the Lake District. Inspired by Dave MacLeod and Dan Turner, who both completed multi-disciplinary rounds in the UK, Neil set out to create a similar challenge. His ambitious goal was to complete a V8 boulder problem, an E8 trad route, an 8a sport climb, a D8 dry-tooling route, and hike eight Wainwright summits all within 24 hours.

Neil says of the film: “I wanted to put something together that tested the full range of climbing skills and really showcased the quality and diversity of climbing in the Lakes. Link -ups present a unique challenge - they require careful logistics, timing with the weather, and energy conservation. It’s a great way to see familiar terrain with fresh eyes.”

“I had no idea how the 8a sport route was going to feel after starting bouldering at 7a and then slogging up to a mountain crag to do a big trad route. It was hard to know if there would be enough left in the tank, but that was the fun of it!”

“To me, it was about taking a moment to appreciate the hills where British rock climbing

‘Straight 8s’ is a tale of partnership, perseverance, and the unyielding human spirit, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Lake District. As Neil and Anak push their limits, they discover that the greatest challenges are best faced together.

You can catch ‘Straight 8s’ on the main stage at the Base Camp tent, where Neil will introduce the film and answer audience questions after the screening.