‘The Summit’ Awarded World Cinema Documentary Prize for Editing at Sundance
Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board supported documentary THE SUMMIT produced and directed by Nick Ryan of Image Now Films has picked up a prize at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival this weekend.
The film which details the deadliest day in modern mountain climbing history when 11 climbers including Limerick man Ger McDonnell were killed on a K2 mountain expedition in August 2008, won the Editing Award in the World Documentary competition.
The award finishes what was a very successful festival for Irish films with THE SUMMIT being snapped up by a major US distributor Sundance Selects after its premiere at the festival and the Irish short animation IRISH FOLK FURNITURE directed by Tony Donoghue scooping the Best Animation prize at the festival.
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.
Twenty-four climbers from several international expeditions originally on High Camp of K2, the last stop before the summit of the most dangerous mountain on earth, but within 48 hours later, 11 had been killed or had vanished, making it the worst K2 climbing disaster in history.
THE SUMMIT was produced by Image Now Films and Pat Falvey Productions, in association with Passion Pictures, Diamond Docs and Fantastic Films and is funded by IFB, RTÉ, BAI and BBC. The Summit benefited from EFP Sales Support funding to attend the Sundance FIlm Festival.
IRISH FOLK FURNITURE is a charming animated tale bringing new life to the cultural and social history of Irish farmhouse furniture and was selected from over 8000 short film applications to screen at the prestigious festival. IRISH FOLK FURNITURE was produced by Cathal Black under the 'Frameworks' animated short film scheme funded by the IFB, RTÉ and the Arts Council.