Irish director Nick Ryan’s award-winning film The Summit is set to open in Irish cinemas on 22nd November.
The gripping film chronicles one of the deadliest days in modern mountain history when 11 climbers, including Limerick man Ger McDonnell, lost their lives on the most dangerous mountain on Earth, K2. The film is from the producers of BAFTA winning Touching The Void, and the writer of Oscar winning The Cove.
Speaking about the release Nick Ryan, director of The Summit said: “We are truly excited to be bringing The Summit to the big screen in Ireland, and that audiences will be able to experience the events of the shocking 2008 climb. This is a compelling story and one that we felt needed to be told, especially with the story of Irishman Ger McDonnell, whose final heroic act is central to the film. It was an honour to receive an award at this years Sundance film festival, and following our release across the US this weekend, this news is great for all those who worked so hard to bring this film to the screen.”
Patrick O’Neill, Wildcard Distribution CEO added: “Nick Ryan’s Sundance winning The Summit is a unique and thrilling cinema experience, and Irish filmmaking at it’s finest. We can’t wait for Irish audiences to see this film on the big screen where it belongs.”
Coming down after conquering a mountain is considered the hardest and most deadly part of mountain climbing when climbers can often become careless due to exhaustion and elation from the conquest. Twenty-four climbers from several international expeditions set out on this notorious quest to the top of K2 but within a 48 hour period, 11 had been killed or had vanished.
The Summit includes never-before-seen footage of the climb and interviews with Sherpa Pemba Gyalje, who was awarded the National Geographic Adventurer of the Year for his heroic deeds on K2; Norit team leader Wilco van Rooijen, who survived three days in the death zone; and Marco Confortola, the last man to speak to Ger McDonnell.
The Summit has just been released in the USA where the film has been receiving rave reviews with the LA Times calling the film “Irresisible”, The New York Times “A pulse-pounding success” and the Hollywood Reporter “A heart throbbing cliffhanger”.
The Summit was produced by Image Now in association with Passion Pictures, Diamond Docs and Fantastic Films and was funded by Irish Film Board, RTÉ, BAI and BBC.