About The Player
The Player is Kendal Mountain Festival’s official streaming platform, showcasing more than 400 adventure films. Its catalogue brings together award-winning Festival favourites, exciting new releases and timeless classics from the world of outdoor filmmaking.
At the heart of Kendal Mountain Festival is an exceptional film programme, curated from entries to our international film competition. It spans major premieres featuring some of the world’s greatest athletes, alongside emerging filmmakers and new voices from across the outdoor community.
The Player was launched in 2020, when live events were put on hold, to provide a space where people could continue to connect through adventure, storytelling and outstanding filmmaking.
Since then, it has grown into a year-round home for diverse and cinematic adventure stories. It allows those who cannot attend the Festival in person to experience its films, while giving Festival audiences the opportunity to discover more stories from the comfort of home.
In an industry often dominated by commercial interests and established platforms, we believe it is important to provide meaningful support for independent filmmakers. The Player gives their work greater visibility while also supporting them financially.
By supporting the Kendal Mountain Player, you are helping independent outdoor filmmaking to thrive. Fifty per cent of the Player’s profits are shared directly with the independent filmmakers whose work appears on the platform.
How wonderful for the magic of Kendal to live on with audiences around the world. It is a perfect example of the community at the heart of the Festival, connecting films with audiences and supporting filmmakers along the way.
Catherine Joy White
Filmmaker
Really impressed at how Kendal Mountain Player generously splits profits with the filmmakers it showcases. It’s rare to make much money from hosting a short film online, and so I was pleasantly surprised when KMF emailed me.
Duncan Cowles
Filmmaker
Stories are the lifeblood of the outdoor community, and films capture them in a way nothing else can. Kendal Mountain Player not only shares these stories beautifully, but also stands out by supporting the filmmakers behind them.
Graham Zimmerman
Festival Patron, Alpinist, Filmmaker
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are the 2025 Festival films available on the Player?
We currently have over seventy 2025 Festival films on the Player!
We show almost all of our Festival films on the Player as part of the Online Festival, but after this ends, we have to reach individual agreements with each filmmaker to be able to platform their films.
Many films are unable to join the Player due to conflicting distribution agreements, especially in the first couple of years following their release.
However, we do try hard to reach agreements with as many Festival films as possible and regularly contact filmmakers to discuss their involvement with the Player.
What is included in a subscription plan?
A subscription gives you access to over 350 Festival films, archive sessions, and speaker events — plus the 2026 Online Film Festival (19 Nov 2026 - 3 Jan 2027). The Player spans more than a decade of adventure storytelling, with new films added regularly.
What is the 2026 Online Film Festival?
The Online Film Festival is your chance to experience the best of Kendal Mountain Festival from the comfort of your sofa -wherever that may be.
Between 19 November 2026 and 3rd January 2027, we make the majority of our 2026 Festival film programme (approx 150 adventure, environmental, and mountain culture films from around the world) available to stream on the Kendal Mountain Player. Plus you will also have access to the existing 350 adventure films from short film collections to life affirming feature films.
While a small number of films may be unavailable due to filmmaker preferences, the Online Film Festival offers an incredible breadth of storytelling, plus full access to our Player’s wider film library throughout the Festival period.
It’s a great option if you can’t make it to Kendal in person — or want to keep the inspiration flowing long after the Festival ends.
Can I watch on my TV or phone?
Yes — stream across phones, tablets, laptops, and smart TVs — casting from your mobile or logging in via browser.
Can I cancel any time?
Yes. Monthly plans can be cancelled anytime; annual plans run for 12 months from signup.
We also provide the option to pause monthly subscriptions for up to 3 months, pausing all payments until you are ready to return. This will also pause the monthly updates and news alerts on films being released regularly onto the Player.
What’s the difference between the Annual Subscription and the 2026 Online Film Festival?
The Annual Subscription gives year-round access to the full Player. The Online Film Festival offers access only during the Online Film Festival period (19 November – 3 January 2027).
Can I watch offline or download films?
Currently, films can only be streamed online via a web browser or mobile device.
Can I purchase a monthly plan in November?
The monthly subscription is only open for signups between January – September.
From the 1st October, the annual subscription (£44.99) will be available for signups and will provide you with instant access to the Player platform and all the films. Alternatively, you can pre-order the 2026 Online Film Festival or Christmas Gift offer from September onwards.