Outdoor Cinema

UFO LIFE describes the successful project of Mammut athlete Marek Holeček and Zdeněk Hák: The first ascent through the northwest wall to the seven-thousand-meter high Chamlang in Nepal. A wall that has been tempted by climbers from all over the world for decades, but without success. In the documentary film, the two mountaineering legends Reinhold Messner and Doug Scott comment on the impressive achievement. 

Hilaree Nelson and Jim Morrison completed the first ski descent of the 27,940-foot Lhotse, the fourth-highest mountain in the world. This is their story. 

This documentation shows Czech pro-alpinist and Mammut Pro Team athlete Marek Holecek opening a new alpine-style route called "Heavenly Trap" on the northwest face of Baruntse (7162m) in Nepal with his climbing partner Radoslav Groh.  Holecek, who already won two Piolets d'Or, the Oscars of mountaineering, with his climbing partner Zdenek Hak in 2017 and 2019, came up with the idea for the new route on Baruntse. Compared to the regular route via the south ridge, the two alpinists had to cross a two-kilometer-high wall to reach the summit. A cyclone prevented the two alpinists from descending and forced them to remain at almost 7000m for several days.  Directed and main camera by Tomáš Galásek

In 2013 Dani Arnold and David Lama teamed up for an expedition to Alaska and were able to realize a spectacular first ascent right away. With their route new route "Bird of Prey" Arnold and Lama manage to pull off the first line through the central headwall of the 1500-meter east face of Mosse's Tooth. 

In November 2015, David Lama and Conrad Anker became the first expedition ever to reach the headwall of Lunag Ri, a 6907 meters high mountain located at the border of Nepal and Tibet.  Turn on subtitles for German, English or French translations! 

"Flashing" a climb means doing it bottom to top, with no falls, on your first try.  Adam Ondra, the best sport climber in the world, set himself an impossible-seeming goal of becoming the first person to flash a route rated 9a+ (5.15a). There were only a few climbs of the grade on the planet that he hadn't yet done or tried. He strategized for years, failed on several of them, and then in 2018 he finally succeeded, sending Alex Megos' route Supercrackinette, in St Leger, France. Luckily our team was there to capture this rare moment. 

Chris Sharma and Adam Ondra spent two years working together to climb La Dura Dura (5.15c / 9b+), the world's hardest climb at the time. This film tells the story of their unique collaboration and shows Adam's historic first ascent and Chris' second ascent.

The Faction Collective’s third feature film uncovers the foundations of freeskiing as seen by the current generation of skiers. From the caves of the Dolomites to the nightscapes of Ruka and the mythic peaks surrounding Verbier, "Roots" takes us on a journey through the vibrant spectrum of freeskiing. In co-production with Red Bull Media House.

In Association with 1% for the Planet and Climate Partners, “Roots” is a Climate Neutral film.

Starring: Alex Hall, Alexis Ghisleni, Antti Ollila, Astrid Cheylus, Bella Bacon, Ben Buratti, Blake Wilson, Cody Cirillo, Daniel Hanka, Duncan Adams, Elisabeth Gerritzen, Kadi Gomis, Mac Forehand, Margaux Hackett, Markus Fohr, Matěj Švancer, Mathilde Gremaud, Micah Evangelista, Sam Anthamatten, Sandra Eie, Sarah Hoefflin, Simon Charrière, Sophia Rouches, Tim McChesney, Tim Sivignon & Yann Rausis

CHOICES is the portrait of an exceptional sportswoman who is not afraid to make decisions and who approaches her life as she approaches her climbing projects - as willing to compromise as necessary and as uncompromisingly as possible: Steph Davis. 

Standing at 7041 Metres, Link Sar is said to be the last great unclimbed mountain of the Karakoram range in Pakistan. The Mountain has seen 9 failed attempts since 1970, including a 2017 attempt by the team of Graham Zimmerman, Steve Swenson and Mark Richey. In 2019 the team returned bolsered by the addition of Mark Richey for one more attempt on the unscaled peak. This is their story. 

The intimate travel diary of an incredible Freeride expedition into the heart of the Karakoram range. The search for one of the most beautiful mountains to ski on the planet, standing at 5880m. An adventure so remote, so high, so committed that no mistakes were allowed. During five weeks, the crew pushed deeper and deeper inside Pakistan, with a 150 km loop in complete autonomy, pulling sleds filled with food, tents and solar panels across gigantic glaciers. As far from home as one can get. A meeting point of Freeriding and Mountaineering. A true adventure.

"Down to Nothing" is a documentary film that chronicles the journey of a group of adventurers as they attempt to climb an unexplored and challenging mountain in a remote region. The film captures their physical and emotional struggles, as well as the breathtaking landscapes and the unique cultural encounters they experience along the way.

The story follows a diverse team of climbers, including experienced mountaineers and outdoor enthusiasts, as they embark on an expedition to conquer a peak that has never been scaled before. They face extreme weather conditions, treacherous terrain, and the constant threat of avalanches, all while pushing themselves to their physical and mental limits.

Walk the Line" is a documentary film that chronicles the ambitious and awe-inspiring journey of two world-renowned mountaineers, David Lama and Conrad Anker, as they attempt to climb the unclimbed peak of Lunag Ri in the Himalayas.

“Annapurna III – Unclimbed” is an award-winning 12-min documentary featuring the 2016 expedition to the Himalayas of Nepal led by David Lama together with Austrian alpinists Hansjörg Auer and Alex Blümel. Join the team in their feelings of fatigue, anxiety, exposure and ordeal during their 5 weeks attempting one of the world’s greatest, unsolved puzzles of alpinism: The unclimbed south-east ridge of Annapurna III.

"Curiosity" is a captivating documentary that follows the inspiring journey of Timothy Olson, an ultrarunner and outdoor enthusiast, as he explores the limits of human potential, embraces a life of adventure, and seeks profound connection with nature.

Tapping into an intimate journey of three wonderful friends, Mind Over Mountain follows Canadian snow sliders Leah Evans, Marie-France Roy, and Madeleine Martin-Preney on their 85-mile, 30,000-foot-vertical Bugaboos to Rogers ski traverse. The iconic Canadian ski route dishes out some shaky spring conditions, tests rappelling confidence, hurt hip flexors, and breaks personal rules to never ski out in the dark. But the human conditions are as good as they get, and we’re reminded that snow travel is as much about talking with mountains as it is talking with friends.

Nestled between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains in British Columbia, the Spearhead Traverse is a classic winter route renowned for its incredible terrain. 'Spearhead: Pushing the Boundaries of BC's Backcountry' celebrates the history of the route, first skied in 1964, while asking how do we manage the impact on these spaces as they gain popularity. 

Kilian Jornet is considered the greatest mountain runner ever. But he doesn't consider himself a runner. Join Kilian in his new backyard in Norway as he attempts to ski and run in a single day the Seven Summits of Romsdalen, a 77km route with 9000m of elevation gain. 

After an ice climbing avalanche takes the life of her close friend, professional athlete and alpine guide Sarah Hueniken is shattered. In an attempt to reconnect with her life in the mountains, she takes on a huge link-up of remote winter climbs - but healing is about a lot more than just climbing.

In the mountains behind the sleepy coastal town of Powell River, BC, a small group of rock climbers has spent decades quietly pioneering routes on some of the largest granite walls in Canada. As the last stands of old-growth trees harboured in these valleys come under threat of logging, the climbing community faces the uncertain future of a place that has come to define their lives and legacies.

On October 2, 2020, Tom Herbert revisits his father's historic first ascent on the Muir Wall of El Capitan in attempt to set a speed record on the original route. Featuring TM Herbert, Yvon Chouinard, Tommy Caldwell and more. 

In loving memory of Marc-Andre Leclerc.

How much can we gain from the mountains? How much can we lose? Between our own perceptions and the reality of the hazards, how much space exists? And in that gap, how do we decide what we are willing to risk? Solving for Z explores IFMGA guide and father Zahan Billimoria’s relationship to the intoxicating highs and crushing blows of a life in the high-consequence environment of big mountain skiing.   

Cody Townsend has set out on an audacious goal  to climb and ski all 50 lines chronicled in the book, "The Fifty Classic Ski Descents of North America". Peak Obsession is a stand alone film premiered at film festivals around the world and dives into the depths of the mindset behind the project told through the story of two of the more challenging lines in the book, Meteorite Mountain and Pontoon Peak near Valdez, Alaska. Joined by legendary snowboarder Jeremy Jones, along with cameraman Bjarne Salen, they set out on an adventure rife with challenge, exhaustion and a bevy of lessons to learn along the adventure.

Freja Shannon and Fay Manners head to Zion National Park, Utah, to try their (newly taped) hands at crack climbing.  A film by Aleksandra Janiak.

This is a brief look at the history of Climbing Shoes.  A sport that hasn't been around that long has seen some serious innovations and changes to one of the most important pieces of equipment in the sport.  By understanding how the shoes used in climbing changed alongside how the sport changes can give us an insight on what we can expect in the future.

All you'd want to know about climbing shoes, comes from the best, Adam Ondra himself. 

Reinhold Messner's impact on mountaineering and exploration cannot be overstated. His courage, innovation, and unwavering determination have inspired generations of climbers and adventurers to pursue their own dreams and challenge the limits of human potential. Messner's legacy as a true pioneer in the world of mountaineering continues to inspire and captivate individuals around the globe. Here is an interview that captures the man and the personality. 

Every climbing reward comes at the cost of a potential risk, but when you are a climbing pioneer, driven by the unknown and unexpected, you are willing to risk whatever it takes for the chance to find the perfect first ascent line. This is a story of exploration and discovery, a journey of friendship and solitude, and a quest to fuel an obsessive passion. Starring Paul Robinson, Jimmy Webb, Daniel Woods, Chris Sharma and Niky Ceria.

Three decades after the first ascent, alpinist Stephan Siegrist leads an expedition to retrace the steps of the climbers who first topped the classic Swiss ice route Crack Baby (IV WI6; 350m).

On Feb. 15 1993, Swiss climbers Xaver Bongard and Michael Gruber made the first ascent of Crack Baby, an 11-pitch ice climb near Kandersteg in Switzerland. The 350m line has since become one of the most iconic ice climbs in Europe. Just one year after opening the route, Bongard was killed in a BASE jumping accident in Lauterbrunnen. Among the many admirers he left behind was young aspiring alpinist Stef Seigrist, who looked up to the 30-year-old as a friend and mentor. In his new film, Siegrist takes Gruber back to the Breitwangflue to pay tribute to Bongard. For Gruber’s first attempt at the route since opening it 30 years ago, the pair dust off some of the original gear to get the job done in style.

Inspired by the human-powered enchainments achieved in Europe, in early summer 2021, Alastair McDowell & Hamish Fleming set out on a quest to enchain New Zealand’s 24 highest mountains above 3000 metres in a continuous 31-day push. This would be a transalpine journey, from west coast jungle to high-alpine summits, traversing some of New Zealand’s most dramatic landscapes. But with the clock ticking down, fatigue mounting and storms arriving, would they be able to complete the project before their time, weather & luck ran out?

"I’m tied in at the base of pitch 20 ready for 35 meters of battle. I close my eyes, take a few deep breaths, and try to stifle the ever-present pain in my toes. It’s been a long two months of trying this route. Over 2,000 feet of granite sweeps away to the jungle below as I ready myself for the final try on the last day of the trip."  - Hayden Jamieson  Bronwyn Hodgins and Hayden Jamieson, along with team mates Danford Jooste, Tyler Karow, and Jaron Pham headed to Cochamó, Chile, with their eyes on a big wall objective that would lead them up an imposing 1000m line, that had yet to see a free ascent.  

A film by Jaron Pham.

Nyanchen Tanglha is a 7,046m Himalayan peak, located in central Tibet. A little traveled mountain and for which the climbing permit is still difficult to obtain. Its northern part had never been explored, nor even observed from afar. Nick Bullock and Paul Ramsden complete the face in 5 days and then descend into another valley...pure English alpine style, without compromise!

Masherbrum, although once called K1, is not the highest. It is hailed by locals as the Queen of the Mountains, perhaps because it is so inaccessible. While the world's highest summit Mt. Everest has been reached countless times, only four expeditions have ever climbed the perilous peak of Masherbrum, the last in 1985.   37 years later, a Czech expedition is attempting to conquer one of the most impressive mountains on the planet. Radoslav Groh, Marek Holecek and Tomas Petrecek want to climb a new alpine-style route on its west face. Will they succeed in captivating the Queen? "Now the answer lies upon us, also in the stars, and who knows, perhaps a blessing must come from the royal court.   The ball has begun, where we shall try to cheer, dance and soften the Queen. At the same time, we beg for indulgence that we intend to intrude into her presence, when our steps will be clumsy, lacking in elegance, ignorant of good manners or the ethics of the royal court. But a heart full of apprehension, also full of passion and determination to seek her favour. Keep your fingers crossed, there we go..." Marek Holecek, 7. 8. 2022, Karakoram

  ABOUT THE DIRECTOR   Tomas Galasek (*1978) is a Czech director and cinematographer. He graduated from the Film School Zlín and the Lansing School District in Michigan, USA. His work focuses mainly on documentary films from the field of outdoor and adrenaline sports. He is a co-founder of the audiovisual production group Alternative.NOW has already produced several successful projects, including the internationally awarded freeride documentary White Line and a feature-length documentary about three extreme sportsmen called The Elements.   FILMOGRAPHY: Heavenly Trap (2021), Boys 1970 (2020), Naked Mountain (2019), The Elements (2016), Few Days (2014), Without the Sea (2013), White Line (2012), Knocking on Heaven's Door (2008)

In the spring of 2022, four athletes on The North Face team, Emily Harrington, Brette​ Harrington, Christina Lusti and Hilaree Nelson embarked on the trip of a lifetime. Their expedition to climb and ski epic first descents on Baffin Island, Canada became a celebration—of their​ accomplishments, of their friendship, and of their lives.​  In loving memory of Hilaree Nelson, 1972–2022.​  

Directed by Kaki Orr and Rob Wassmer​ Edited by Aidan Haley and Kyle Von Von Hoetzendorff.​ Cinematography by Mathias Dumas, Nick Kalisz, and Jordan Manoukian. ​ Executive Producers include Kaki Orr, Christina Lusti and Aidan Haley.​

FREE TO RUN - a mission to tell the stories of women using sport to transform the world around them. After completing the TOR330 race four times, Stephanie Case’s next goal in sight was the TOR450, all while working behind the scenes to organize an all-women expedition in Afghanistan with Free to Run. These women include Zeinab and Zahra, who represent not only Free to Run’s ethos but the spirit of many other women in Afghanistan who believe in education and progress. Captured by the lenses of Dream Lens Media, this is a truly unique moment in history documenting Stephanie’s unshakeable strength and incredible belief in the power of the women around her.

Fueled by an unwavering love and responsibility for the land, Hän Gwich’in 20 year-old Quannah Chasinghorse, and her mother Jody Potts-Joseph, are taking a stand to defend their sacred homelands, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Directed and Produced by Maia Wikler, Edited by Cecilia Brown, Cinematography by Keri Oberly, Executive Producers include Robert Wassmer, Kaki Orr and Eric Raymond.

Both experts in their disciplines, Victor De Le Rue and Sam Anthamatten are still looking for fun and new adventures. Team athletes and free riders, they are changing the way we move in the mountains. The goal is no longer to reach a summit and then come back down, now they jump over crevasses, ride down steep slopes, climb ice walls to ride them better and use their paraglider to fly over obstacles.

Six films of early exploration were introduced by the Royal Geographical Society by Duncan Carse.  'Mount Everest is great and beautiful. Marvellously built: majest, terrible'.  So wrote one of the first climbers to stand beneath the peak of the highest mountain in the world. Yet, these early pioneers were to get within 1,700 feet of the summit: biouvac through a blizzard; get frost-bite and windburn; and at the end of their triumphs and tribulations, return with a classic film of early mountaineering.

"You Had To Be Brave," is a captivating cinematic journey that unravels the gripping history and awe-inspiring anecdotes of the evolution of ice climbing. Brace yourself as we delve into the frozen realms of vertical landscapes, where courage and skill intertwine in the words of two extraordinary protagonists, Stevie Haston and Ezio Marlier. These visionary climbers take us on a thrilling expedition through the annals of ice climbing history, sharing their personal triumphs, challenges, and the indomitable spirit that defines their pursuit of conquering ice.

The exceptional climber and Mammut athlete Jakob Schubert is in a class of his own: two Olympic bronze medals, six world championship titles and the highest level of difficulty ever mastered in lead climbing and bouldering. Find out in this film how Jakob became the most successful athlete of 2023. 

Lured by shadows on Google Earth, Matt Glenn, Hamish Frost, Paul Ramsden, and Tim Miller set out on an expedition to one of the most isolated regions of Nepal. In an experience far removed from the more popular corners of the Himalaya, the team’s first challenge was simply to access the Salimor Khola.  During the trip, the group split into two separate teams. Tim and Paul set their sights on the unclimbed peak of Surma-Sarovar, standing at 6,605 metres, as their main objective. Over the course of four days, they made the first ascent, before taking a further two days to tackle the complicated descent.  After exploring the vast valley, Matt and Hamish turned their attention to the other peaks that lay nearby. Finding climbing that was both challenging and serious, it required all their experience. Harrowing conditions and difficult decisions were tackled with a strong partnership and a friendship that’s thrived both in and out of the mountains.

Tucked deep in the Indian Himalaya is a 21,165-foot behemoth called the Peak of Evil, the face of which is split by a line so perfect and massive it pushed the skills of even the most renowned ski mountaineers. Papsura: Peak of Evil follows professional snowboarders Nick Russell and Jerry Mark from California’s Sierra Nevada to this remote corner of the world’s greatest mountain range as they harness years of experience in pursuit of the biggest line of their lives.  

Adam Ondra gives an insight into his mental game while flashing one of the hardest trad climbs in the UK: Lexicon. The route is rated E11, which signifies a route of extreme difficulty and danger, often involving perilous moves and considerable exposure.  "I was always quite hesitant to go and try some of the harder trad routes in the UK, because they often look objectively very dangerous. Gear placements are often very precarious, and I still feel pretty much like a beginner when it comes to placing and trusting the gear.  When my friend Neil Gresham made the first ascent of Lexicon in 2021, I knew it was a route that looked too good to miss. It is in a beautiful landscape of the Lake District, high in the mountains, blending trad climbing skills, cool head, and sport climbing physique in a perfect way."

AN is a powerful short film about defying age, chasing passion, and rewriting what’s possible.  In a world that tells us to slow down, 72-year-old Ian Elliott proves it’s never too late to send your hardest route. At nearly 70, he climbs Grade 28 (5.12d) — a feat few ever achieve — and shows us what relentless determination looks like.  IAN is an award-winning Australian climbing film about resilience, aging boldly, and living life on your terms.