National Science Foundation

Documentary about the making of the IMAX film 'Everest', detailing how a climbing team lead by world-famous mountaineer Ed Viesturs and award-winning cinematographer David Breshears, got an IMAX camera to the top of the world's highest mountain. The film also relives the events of those dramatic days when eight climbers from other expedition teams died in a sudden storm high on the mountain. A behind-the-scenes look at how the film crew put down their cameras and launched a rescue mission to save lives.

An international team of climbers ascends Mt. Everest in the spring of 1996 to make a documentary for the big screen of the Imax theatres. The film depicts their lengthy preparations for the climb, their trek to the summit, and their successful return to Base Camp. It also shows many of the challenges the group faced, including avalanches, lack of oxygen, treacherous ice walls, carrying an Imax camera to the summit, and a deadly blizzard. Filmed during the infamous 1996 storm that claimed eight lives, Everest also documents the filmmakers' harrowing rescue efforts to help surviving members of the ill-fated group.