National Geographic’s latest documentary, Everest: The Other Side, opened at the Venice Film Festival, showcasing the daring attempt by elite ski mountaineers Jim Morrison and Hilaree Nelson to climb and ski the mountain’s infamous North Face. The North Face has been summited just over 13,000 times, yet only five people have ever tackled it directly, and no one has ever skied it.
Filmmakers and the daring quest
Directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin—renowned for the Oscar‑winning Free Solo—bring their expertise in death‑defying storytelling to the project. Their production company, Little Monster Films, partnered with National Geographic and Walt Disney Studios to capture the extreme conditions and personal resolve required for the climb.
The film follows Morrison and Nelson as they train, plan, and ultimately confront the treacherous terrain, highlighting both the physical challenges and the deep personal motivations that drive them. Their goal: to achieve the most coveted ski line on Earth, a feat no one has yet accomplished.
Festival circuit and theatrical release
After its Venice debut, Everest: The Other Side is scheduled to screen at several major festivals, including Telluride, Toronto, Camden, and the BFI Film Festival. The documentary will open worldwide in theaters and IMAX on October 30, offering audiences a chance to experience the breathtaking visuals and high‑stakes drama on the big screen.
National Geographic, owned by The Walt Disney Company, continues its tradition of pairing compelling storytelling with cutting‑edge cinematography, bringing viewers closer to the planet’s most extreme environments.
Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.