search films
-
Docudrama / Recreation
Le Cervin
Jerzy Surdel (1986)
Recreation of the first ascent of the Matterhorn on 14 July 1865. Four of the seven men led by the Englishman Edward Whymper lost their lives in the attempt, and the story of Zermatt and the tragedy on the Matterhorn was soon on everyone’s lips. The rope connecting Edward Whymper and local guides Peter Taugwalder and his son to the rest of the unfortunate rope group, broke during the descent.- 1986
- France, Germany, Switzerland
- 60 min
Recreation of the first ascent of the Matterhorn on 14 July 1865. Four of the seven men led by the Englishman Edward Whymper lost their lives in the attempt, and the story of Zermatt and the tragedy on the Matterhorn was soon on everyone’s lips. The rope connecting Edward Whymper and local guides Peter Taugwalder and his son to the rest of the unfortunate rope group, broke during the descent.Climbing locations
Availability
Watch Free -
Docudrama / Recreation
The Bat
Jim Curran (1978)
This award winning film tells the story of an epic first ascent by Robin Smith and Dougal Haston on Ben Nevis in 1959. The film is a re-enactment shot in a memorable week in 1978, when Rab Carrington played the part of Robin Smith and Brian Hall played Dougal Haston; Paul Nunn was safety officer. A cult classic based on Smith's famous tale 'The Bat & The Wicked' and interwoven with extracts from Hastons's autobiography 'In High Places', the narration gives a rare insight into the competitive world of extreme rock climbing. The Bat is an evocative tribute to two of Scotland's greatest climbers.- 1978
- UK
- 28 min
This award winning film tells the story of an epic first ascent by Robin Smith and Dougal Haston on Ben Nevis in 1959. The film is a re-enactment shot in a memorable week in 1978, when Rab Carrington played the part of Robin Smith and Brian Hall played Dougal Haston; Paul Nunn was safety officer. A cult classic based on Smith's famous tale 'The Bat & The Wicked' and interwoven with extracts from Hastons's autobiography 'In High Places', the narration gives a rare insight into the competitive world of extreme rock climbing. The Bat is an evocative tribute to two of Scotland's greatest climbers.Climbing locations
Availability
DVD / BLU-RAY -
Docudrama / Chronicle
K2 and the invisible footmen
Iara Lee (2015)
Statistically, for every four climbers who summits K2, one of them will die, and the mountain has the second highest fatality rate among the world's highest peaks. 'It's the father of all mountains...one mistake and you're dead', warns one climber. As the climbing season only lasts from May through to August, porters must make enough money in these months to support themselves through the rest of the year. 'It's difficult to make ends meet... there is no other source of income', complains one: of his seven children, he can only afford to send two of them to school.- 2015
- USA
- 55 min
Statistically, for every four climbers who summits K2, one of them will die, and the mountain has the second highest fatality rate among the world's highest peaks. 'It's the father of all mountains...one mistake and you're dead', warns one climber. As the climbing season only lasts from May through to August, porters must make enough money in these months to support themselves through the rest of the year. 'It's difficult to make ends meet... there is no other source of income', complains one: of his seven children, he can only afford to send two of them to school.Climbing locations
Availability
Watch Free DVD / BLU-RAY Video on Demand -
Docudrama / Chronicle
The summit
Nick Ryan (2012)
K2 is the second-highest peak in the world but is renowned as the most dangerous -- and revered by mountaineers as their ultimate challenge. In August 2008, 18 climbers reached the summit of K2. Forty-eight hours later, 11 people were dead. What happened on that fateful day has never been fully resolved. Utilizing found footage, realistic reenactments, and interviews with survivors, The Summit zigzags back and forth in time, interweaving multiple narrative threads and piecing together events that took place that day—one of the deadliest in mountain-climbing history. With the help of breath-taking cinematography, director Nick Ryan creates a tension-filled, experiential film that will have viewers on the edge of their seats.- 2012
- USA, UK, Switzerland, Ireland
- 95 min
K2 is the second-highest peak in the world but is renowned as the most dangerous -- and revered by mountaineers as their ultimate challenge. In August 2008, 18 climbers reached the summit of K2. Forty-eight hours later, 11 people were dead. What happened on that fateful day has never been fully resolved. Utilizing found footage, realistic reenactments, and interviews with survivors, The Summit zigzags back and forth in time, interweaving multiple narrative threads and piecing together events that took place that day—one of the deadliest in mountain-climbing history. With the help of breath-taking cinematography, director Nick Ryan creates a tension-filled, experiential film that will have viewers on the edge of their seats.Climbing locations
Availability
Watch Free DVD / BLU-RAY Video on Demand -
Docudrama / Historical
Zion Canyon - Treasure of the gods
Kieth Merrill (1996)
Zion Canyon: Treasure of the Gods relates both the history and legends of Zion Canyon, a spectacularly beautiful national park in Utah. As the film was originally shown in IMAX theaters, it was designed to be a treat for the eyes, and the detailed shots of sunlit sandstone canyon walls are truly gorgeous. The final segment of the film shows spectacular images of Nancy Feagin and Doug Heinrich climbing high above the rocky canyon floor, on Dead Horse Point.Zion Canyon - Treasure of the gods
- 1996
- USA
- 39 min
Zion Canyon: Treasure of the Gods relates both the history and legends of Zion Canyon, a spectacularly beautiful national park in Utah. As the film was originally shown in IMAX theaters, it was designed to be a treat for the eyes, and the detailed shots of sunlit sandstone canyon walls are truly gorgeous. The final segment of the film shows spectacular images of Nancy Feagin and Doug Heinrich climbing high above the rocky canyon floor, on Dead Horse Point.Climbing locations
Availability
DVD / BLU-RAY Video on Demand -
Docudrama / Chronicle
Death climb
Christopher Spencer (2010)
In January 1999 Jamie Andrew and his friend Jamie Fisher got caught in a storm after having climbed the north face of Les Droites in the Mont Blanc massif. Having made it up the north face the two men were beset by snow, winds of 90 mph and temperatures of -30 °C, during 5 days. On the last night Fisher died of hypothermia. Despite having developed frostbite, Andrew survived the experience, being helicoptered off the mountain by the French rescue services.- 2010
- UK, USA
- 45 min
In January 1999 Jamie Andrew and his friend Jamie Fisher got caught in a storm after having climbed the north face of Les Droites in the Mont Blanc massif. Having made it up the north face the two men were beset by snow, winds of 90 mph and temperatures of -30 °C, during 5 days. On the last night Fisher died of hypothermia. Despite having developed frostbite, Andrew survived the experience, being helicoptered off the mountain by the French rescue services.Climbing locations
Availability
Video on Demand -
Docudrama / Chronicle
Killer crevasse
Christopher Spencer (2011)
In June 1992 the mountaineering expedition to Mount Rainier of best friends Jim Davidson and Mike Price goes terribly wrong when Jim falls into an 80 foot crevasse, dragging his partner with him. Jim survives the fall because of Mike slowing it down. Jim has to climb out without Mike, who died of his injuries, or he'll die in the night.- 2011
- UK, USA
- 45 min
In June 1992 the mountaineering expedition to Mount Rainier of best friends Jim Davidson and Mike Price goes terribly wrong when Jim falls into an 80 foot crevasse, dragging his partner with him. Jim survives the fall because of Mike slowing it down. Jim has to climb out without Mike, who died of his injuries, or he'll die in the night.Climbing locations
Availability
Video on Demand -
Docudrama / Chronicle
Left for dead on Everest
Neil Rawles (2011)
Australian mountaineer Lincoln Hall attempted to climb Everest in 1984 but didn't reach the summit. Now, 22 years later, he has a second chance. Despite his age, Lincoln fulfils his lifelong dream, but on the descent is struck by a deadly form of altitude sickness known as a cerebral oedema. Unable to climb and suffering from hypothermia, Lincoln is left for dead at 28,000ft. During the night, when his death already announced, Lincoln awakens and that morning is found by Dan Mazur and his group of climbers during their summit attempt.- 2011
- UK, USA
- 45 min
Australian mountaineer Lincoln Hall attempted to climb Everest in 1984 but didn't reach the summit. Now, 22 years later, he has a second chance. Despite his age, Lincoln fulfils his lifelong dream, but on the descent is struck by a deadly form of altitude sickness known as a cerebral oedema. Unable to climb and suffering from hypothermia, Lincoln is left for dead at 28,000ft. During the night, when his death already announced, Lincoln awakens and that morning is found by Dan Mazur and his group of climbers during their summit attempt.Climbing locations
Availability
Video on Demand -
Docudrama / Chronicle
First date nightmare
Simon George (2011)
Two climbers, Jeremy Colenso and Rachel Kelsey, go on a first date climbing in the Swiss Alps. They nearly summit a mountain, but are stopped by ice. A massive storm has formed in the valley below, and the climbers are forced to descend through the treacherous conditions. They end up trapped on a ledge waiting to be rescued.- 2011
- UK, USA
- 45 min
Two climbers, Jeremy Colenso and Rachel Kelsey, go on a first date climbing in the Swiss Alps. They nearly summit a mountain, but are stopped by ice. A massive storm has formed in the valley below, and the climbers are forced to descend through the treacherous conditions. They end up trapped on a ledge waiting to be rescued.Climbing locations
Availability
Video on Demand -
Docudrama / Biographical
Manaslu - Berg der Seelen
Gerald Salmina (2018)
Hans Kammerlander crowned Manaslu in 2017, along with Stephan Keck, and skied down through a new route. That’s the way these two great mountaineers found redemption after the tragedies they went through on that same mountain years before. With archive footage, interviews and magnific dramatic reconstructions, the film goes through Kammerlander’s greatest achievements and his most painful losses. He is one of the greatest alpinists in history, who keeps asking himself how and why he survived while his best friends passed away in the mountain.- 2018
- Austria
- 123 min
Hans Kammerlander crowned Manaslu in 2017, along with Stephan Keck, and skied down through a new route. That’s the way these two great mountaineers found redemption after the tragedies they went through on that same mountain years before. With archive footage, interviews and magnific dramatic reconstructions, the film goes through Kammerlander’s greatest achievements and his most painful losses. He is one of the greatest alpinists in history, who keeps asking himself how and why he survived while his best friends passed away in the mountain.Climbing locations
Availability
DVD / BLU-RAY Video on Demand -
Docudrama / Historical
Isabella
Thomas Senf (2019)
January 1876. A small group of mountaineers is attempting Mont Blanc, the highest European mountain. Among the group is a woman wearing a skirt, British mountaineer Isabella Straton. 150 years later, another group of four mountaineers, including Ines Papert, is using the same equipment trying to re-tell the story of the first winter ascent of Mont Blanc in an homage to a female pioneer in the Alps, Isabella Straton.- 2019
- Switzerland
- 18 min
January 1876. A small group of mountaineers is attempting Mont Blanc, the highest European mountain. Among the group is a woman wearing a skirt, British mountaineer Isabella Straton. 150 years later, another group of four mountaineers, including Ines Papert, is using the same equipment trying to re-tell the story of the first winter ascent of Mont Blanc in an homage to a female pioneer in the Alps, Isabella Straton.Climbing locations
-
Docudrama / Historical
By fair means...
Richard Else (1991)
First episode of 'The climbers', a six-part series on the history of mountaineering produced by Chris Bonington and Richard Else for the BBC. This episode recreates Alfred Mummery's first ascent of the Grepon, in the French Alps in 1881. Chris Bonington dons tweeds, woollen stockings and velour hat to re-create Alfred Mummery's classic ascent. As Bonington says, Mummery could be described more than anyone as the father of modern alpinism.- 1991
- UK
- 30 min
First episode of 'The climbers', a six-part series on the history of mountaineering produced by Chris Bonington and Richard Else for the BBC. This episode recreates Alfred Mummery's first ascent of the Grepon, in the French Alps in 1881. Chris Bonington dons tweeds, woollen stockings and velour hat to re-create Alfred Mummery's classic ascent. As Bonington says, Mummery could be described more than anyone as the father of modern alpinism.Climbing locations