The Dawn Wall

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?

[Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.]

Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.

photo of Josh Lowell
photo of Peter Mortimer

Credits

Directors:

Josh Lowell, Peter Mortimer

Producer:

Josh Lowell, Philipp Manderla, Peter Mortimer

Cinematographer:

Brett Lowell

Editor:

Josh Lowell

Principal Cast:

Tommy Caldwell, Kevin Jorgeson

Contact

Public Film Contact:

Red Bull Media House / Sender Films
featurefilms@redbull.com

Publicity Contact:

Prodigy PR / Rob Fleming
dawnwallfilm@gmail.com
+1 3108572020132

Sales Agent:

CAA

Primary Access
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Secondary Access
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About
Year:
2018
Premiere Status:
Screening Section:
Screening Category:
Language:
Runtime:
100:08 mins