Absolute-Snow: Hi Hannah, thanks for taking the time to talk to us today. We’ve all just watched ‘Thrawn’ and loved it. It’s an engaging blend of nostalgia and concern for the future, all beautifully shot in such a spectacular setting. What inspired you to put the project together?

Hannah: Myself and Lesley had been mulling over the idea of working on a project that would remind the community of the cultural significance of snowsports here in the Cairngorms. To bring people together with the positivity of the history of skiing here, the special community that exists and why we make the effort to be snowsports participants here.

Sometimes that's not easy thanks to the Scottish conditions. We wanted to make a short documentary, and Patagonia were a catalyst in it becoming that as they wanted to support our vision and mission.

It grew from there and the short film, ‘Thrawn’ has many layers and angles to it, but ultimately it aims to be a positive piece that inspires and brings people together to move forward into the unknown future.

Absolute-Snow: When we Googled the word ‘Thrawn’, we just got a load of stuff about Great Admiral Thrawn from Star Wars. What inspired the choice to use this word as the film’s title?

Hannah: It's funny you say that as we had no idea about the Star Wars use until Tim Warwood brought it up at Kendal. Thrawn has a lot more meaning for us as it's in Scots dialect. It means how it sounds, stubborn. You really have to say it roughly with a rolling ‘r’.

We took on this term as we felt it deserved redefining in its use in describing the highland community and more specifically the Cairngorm Snow Community. They are definitely a Thrawn bunch, stubborn but for good reason, resilient and adaptable. We wanted ‘Thrawn’ to be discovered or redefined as a virtue through the stories of the people here, and through this film.

Absolute-Snow: How familiar were you with Lesley McKenna and Lauren MacCallum before beginning this project?

Hannah: I have been friends and supporters of Lesley and Lauren for over a decade now. I started out working in the snowboard industry as a receptionist for the Quiksilver group whilst Lesley was the Roxy snow team manager. We were on different levels then but totally united by our missions to support women in snowsports.

Also, Lesley’s work as a film producer and creator with ChunkyKnit films brought snowboarding to me whilst I sat in snowless Edinburgh as a young adult. I met Lauren through Lesley when she was running LASS, the initiative on the Cairngorms to get more ladies on snowboards around 2010. So we have been working together a long time.

Absolute-Snow: As a filmmaker who works so hard to champion the achievements of women, how rewarding was it to make a film with such super-inspiring women at the heart of it?

Hannah: It wasn’t a purposeful move for it to be so female dominated as a story, it was just naturally this way. I was driven to make this story to support the Cairngorm community and highlight all the positives that snowsports has brought and brings us.

But I was also driven to champion Lesley's story as she is a major inspiration for so many reasons; her professional career, ChunkyKnit, her support of the women's scene worldwide, she is a pioneer of our community and an inspiration for me professionally and personally.

I should note that there are many strong, inspiring women in the Highlands whose stories resonate beyond the heather here. And those stories are worth telling and some haven't been done so already.

Absolute-Snow: Although a lot of your previous work has been within skateboarding, do you have plenty of love for snowboarding too - both riding and filming?

Hannah: My roots are in snowboarding. That is how I came to work in this industry. I found snowboarding in my early twenties when most other people I knew were at University and finding their community.

I found my community and place in the world on the mountains and on the snow. It started me off on a path working in the action sports industry from a communications point of view which opened the door to becoming a film producer and now director.

The film and photography side of my work was ignited from the realisation that more stories needed to be highlighted in our community, the underrepresented.

Absolute-Snow: It must have been a lot of fun filming up in the ‘stubbornly Scottish’ Highlands, but can you tell us about some of the challenges too?

Hannah: We filmed this on our doorstep here in Aviemore and the Cairngorms and that was key to our success as you have to be ready at a moments notice. The film crew was myself, Rupert Shanks, Brodie Hood and Rachel Sarah who were all ready when the conditions were right.

We had a clear idea of what we needed to film but that wasn't without its challenges, that being the snow conditions. I was adamant that we would film the diamond days and show the conditions here in Scotland that fuel us as backcountry tourers but last season was slow.

In early march I was sitting at my laptop wondering how we were going to make this film. There had been no snow. I was ready to email to delay the project by a whole season, then literally a day later it dumped and the scene with Euan Baxter and Lesley riding powder down to Loch Avon was captured (thanks to Brodie who got to also enjoy the turns).

It's the way in Scotland, it can change at a moments notice for good and bad, and that is what makes it special here. It's challenging but you have to be adaptable and versatile as snowboarders, skiers or humans in general.

Absolute-Snow: The lovely old cine footage helps paint a picture of the Cairngorms of old, is that all sourced from Lesley’s dad?

Hannah: Willie McKenna, Lesley's dad is also in Thrawn but he has spent his career in community issues, pushing for the people's voice to be considered locally.

It was Chick Baxter, Lesley's grandad who is the filmer of the archived footage from the 50s on. He was part of the early ski community here and the weekend warriors. As Lesley puts it, he was the storyteller of his generation, and he had the latest equipment. The Super8 and 16mm cameras.

We actually had the luck of finding his old Kodak Super8 camera in the attic and taking it out on the hill to film some rolls, some of it makes a sneak appearance in Thrawn.

Absolute-Snow: Did you have the chance to spend much quality time in Aviemore and get a real taste of local life?

Hannah: I live here so yes. I do on a daily basis! Whether that's up Cairn Gorm, in the Glenmore forest, a local walk in Burnside or in the Old Bridge Inn. I have only been here around 4 years so I have a lot to learn and explore but I have felt hugely welcomed by the community here and made so many creative connections. I feel creatively fueled on a weekly basis. It is a really special place to live.

Absolute-Snow: What were your biggest takeaways from the whole experience?

Hannah: My biggest takeaway from filming Thrawn really became evident when the film was released. The importance of telling positive stories. It's all too often that we are lured by clickbait and negative content as we are intrigued by this as humans but it doesn't necessarily help our mindset or bring us together.

With the happenings in the world right now it was important for us to put out a story that reminds us how lucky we are. But of course, it has the reminder that a major challenge we face is climate change, but we can face it best together.

Absolute-Snow: Your film tells us that resorts under 2,000 metres, such as Aviemore, could lose up to 80% of snowfall by the end of the century. Do you think Lauren can get her voice, and those of the locals who will be affected, properly heard down in Holyrood and beyond?

Hannah: On the current trajectory that could be the case, but we have the power to change things if we work together. Lauren has very much got her voice heard already by the outdoor community and parliament.

As the general manager of Protect Our Winters she has sat confidently and boldly in Holyrood and Westminster to represent our voices and rights. But she always needs more support and I urge our community to follow POW UK to get clued up and in action!

As she tells us there are over 25 million people accessing the outdoors each week in the UK. If even 10% of our community got together to demand change we'd be a force to deal with, and we are already.

Absolute-Snow: Before getting involved in the film, how familiar were you with Patagonia’s various climate campaigns?

Hannah: I am very familiar with these as they are all of importance and so well communicated. Last year, inspired by Patagonia's “We The Power” campaign focused on community energy, we went to Eigg for BBC Earth to film the community and their renewable energy story. I also visited the Vjosa river with Vice and i_D back in 2022 to cover the fight to keep it free flowing.

Absolute-Snow: Amazing to see I'm sure. It must be such interesting work. Okay, final question then we’ll leave you alone, promise: What’s next for you Hannah? Filming something epic somewhere ridiculously picturesque we assume? (not jealous at all)

Hannah: I was pregnant during the filming of Thrawn and had wee Wren during post production so being a mum is keeping me busy at the moment. She comes along on shoots though!

Alongside my partner Rupert, we have set up Wunner Film (wunnerfilm.com), a production company based here in the Highlands but working on purposeful film projects around the world. We had a busy year working with Patagonia Films and BBC Earth, so although we are taking a breather for now, we have many ideas in the pipeline.

Absolute-Snow: Well, we look forward to seeing what you come up with next. Thanks so much for your time Hannah, and best of luck promoting Thrawn and continuing to get that important message out there.