wildernessLectures

Jude Kriwald is an explorer, filmmaker, and adventure mentor whose unconventional path has taken him from cycling solo across continents to creating award-winning documentaries in some of the world's most remote locations. After leaving school at 16 and saving up money, he embarked on a 13-month journey, cycling and wild-camping from England to India, enduring temperatures of -31°C in the Pamirs, navigating war zones in Afghanistan, and sneaking past 30 military checkpoints in Tibet.

Jude's debut film, Alone Across Gola, follows his attempt to retrace a lost track through the Liberian rainforest never before undertaken by bicycle. The film has won Best Adventure Film at the New Zealand Mountain Film Festival and continues to tour internationally, combining stunning visuals with an honest exploration of mental health and resilience. His work extends beyond filmmaking through his role as Basecamp Manager at the British Exploring Society, where he led 30 Young Explorers through challenging Highland conditions and established the charity's first solar-powered basecamp in its 92-year history.

As an autistic and ADHD adventurer, Jude founded AdventureMentor.org to offer free mentoring for people typically underrepresented in adventure. His current focus explores how adventure can benefit neurodivergent individuals and anyone struggling with their mental health, challenging traditional notions of what adventure looks like and who it's for. Winner of the British Exploring Society's Leader of the Year Award, Jude continues to push boundaries both in the field and behind the camera.