THE DAWN WALL

By Josh LOWELL, Peter MORTIMER

RED BULL MEDIA HOUSE - as SALES All rights, World / PROD

Documentary - Completed 2018

Legendary free climber Tommy Caldwell tries to get over heartbreak by scaling 3000ft of an impossible rock face: the Dawn Wall of El Capitan.

Festivals
& Awards

International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam | IDFA 2017
Official Selection Panorama
Berlin European Film Market (EFM) 2018
South by Southwest (SXSW) 2018
Documentary Spotlight - Audience Award
    • Year of production
    • 2018
    • Genres
    • Documentary
    • Countries
    • USA, AUSTRIA
    • Languages
    • ENGLISH
    • Duration
    • 100 mn
    • Director(s)
    • Josh LOWELL, Peter MORTIMER
    • Producer(s)
    • Josh LOWELL (Sender Films), Philipp MANDERLA (Red Bull Media House), Peter MORTIMER (Sender Films)
    • Synopsis
    • In January, 2015, American rock climbers Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson captivated the world with their effort to climb The Dawn Wall, a seemingly impossible 3,000 foot rock face in Yosemite National Park, California. The pair lived on the sheer vertical cliff for weeks, igniting a frenzy of global media attention. But for Tommy Caldwell, The Dawn Wall was much more than just a climb. It was the culmination of a lifetime defined by overcoming obstacles. At the age of 22, the climbing prodigy was taken hostage by rebels in Kyrgyzstan. Shortly after, he lost his index finger in an accident, but resolved to come back stronger. When his marriage fell apart, he escaped the pain by fixating on the extraordinary goal of free climbing The Dawn Wall. Blurring the line between dedication and obsession, Caldwell and his partner Jorgeson spend six years meticulously plotting and practicing their route. On the final attempt, with the world watching, Caldwell is faced with a moment of truth. Should he abandon his partner to fulfill his ultimate dream, or risk his own success for the sake of their friendship?