The children of acclaimed alpinists – who died on K2, second highest summit on the planet – undertake an expedition to Karakorum mountains, to answer universal question: what is the price of passion.
In the summer of 1986, several dozen alpinists from all over the world met to climb K2, second highest mountain on the planet. Very soon the season transforms into a series of tragic events called “black summer”, leaving 13 climbers dead. Almost 30 years later, Eliza Kubarska, the director of the film, together with an international group of grown-up children of acclaimed climbers, sets out on an expedition to reach K2 base camp, symbolic burial place for those who lost their lives on the mountain. Hania Piotrowska, Łukasz Wolf, Lindsey and Chris Tullis will challenge themselves to face the past and to understand the force that once seduced their parents and eventually killed them. On the other hand, Eliza, being a woman and an experienced alpinist, asks herself questions: Is my passion worth the risk? Should I have a child? The film is an emotional journey set against breathtaking vistas of Karakorum Mountains. It is a multilayered psychological portrait of people who are coping to understand the choices of their parents or their own passion. The documentary features intimate archival footage from the 80’s.
Best Feature Film – Banff (Canada),
Gold Genciana -Trento Film Festival (Italy) ,
Alpine Camera in Gold – Graz Mountain Film Festival (Austria),
Grand Prix – Kendal Mountain Festival (UK) ,
Grand Prix – Dutch Mountain Film Festival,
Best Director Award – Bilbao Mendi Film Festival (Spain),
Best Mountain Culture Film – Torello (Spain),
Grand Prix – Vancouver Mountain Film Festival (Canada),
Grand Prix– Hory a Mesto Festival (Slovakia) ,
Prix Montagne – Diablerets Film Festival (Switzerland) ,
Premi Gall fer Cadi – Mostra de Cinema de Montanya dels Pireneus (Spain),
Best Audiovisual Portrayal – 30th Parnu International Documentary and Anthropology FF (Estonia),
Best Alpin Film -Tegernsee International Mountain Film Festival (Germany),
Grand Prix – Film Festival Teplize n. Mentuji (Czech),
Best Mountain Film – International Mountain Film Festival “Vertical” (Russia),
Best Director – International Mountain Film Festival “Vertical” (Russia),
Honourable Mention – Bansko Film Fest (Bulgaria)
Krakowski Festiwal Filmowy (Krakow documentary Festival) – Polish premiere
Locarno Film Festival, ‘Semaine de la critique’ section (Switzerland) – int. premiere
IDFA Amsterdam – official selection,
DocPoint Helsinki – official selection,
DOC Fest Munchen – official selection.
Wywiad z E.Kubarską – “Wysokie Obcasy”
K2.Touching the Sky (Polish title: K2.Dotknąć nieba) has been broadcasted by HBO Europe, and Servus TV (its cooproducers), and screened at numerous festivals. Distributor: Rise and Shine. We are available for slideshows on Karakorum expeditions and film Q+A sessions. You can follow film at its FB channel.
