Guillaume Lion

In February 2017, three of the best Belgian climbers in the world, Sean Villanueva O'Driscoll, Nicolas Favresse and Siebe Vanhee, came into the limelight after having climbed one of the most difficult routes in Patagonia, 'El Regalo de Mwono', a 1200 metre route on the east side of the Torre Centrale, Torres del Paine. On returning home, they asked the director Guillaume Lion to assemble the footage of their 19 day journey. The result is a powerful and entertaining film that recounts the story of a strong friendship.

Stéphane, a rock-climber, wants to make a name in the world of climbing. With his girlfriend Alizée, a renowned climber, he spends the winter in Siurana, Catalonia – the perfect place for tough climbing. ‘The Big Boys’ Playground’ is about the mindset of climbers. Sometimes the hardest part is simply accepting that one is able to succeed. Performance, more than a physical achievement, seems to be a state of mind. Through the sport of climbing the film reflects on universal topics such as the pursuit of excellence, achievement of goals and life as a couple … ‘The Big Boys’ Playground’ has the ambition to reach the general public, but at the same time it takes a critical look at already well-established climbing film industry.