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VERTICAL LIFE FILM TOUR 2021 (has now ended)

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FILM TOUR LINE UP

Vertical Life is all about the mountain lifestyle, and the most adventurous activities we all dream of participating in, but feel much safer watching on the big (or small) screen!

OUT OF THE BLUE

A mysterious character engages a combination of street artists and mountain alpinists for an unthinkable project located in the Oberland summits of Switzerland. Maja and Sebastian, talented Bernese acrobats ponder whether to embark on this extraordinary vertical odyssey.

Out of the Blue is an original independent film not previously released. It combines climbing, slack lining and circus arts in a truly unique and visually stunning film that captures the very essence of “vertical life”.  

The film has an original score by rising talent Josue Vergara.

Runtime: 43 mins

Director & Producer: Montaz-Rosset Studio

Cast: Maja Walter, Sebastien Hope, Bernhard Witz, Adrian Zurbrugg, Cor Vinke, Mad & Pow, Simona Hronoa, Alexis & Olivia, Mia, Anna, Joli & Chris.

A THOUSAND WAYS TO KISS THE GROUND

Thousand Ways To Kiss The Ground is an exploration into grief and its expression through the stories of individuals who have experienced loss or trauma due to climbing or alpinism. Made in collaboration with the Climbing Grief Fund, this artful compilation of interviews highlights how there is no singular or correct way to grieve. Indeed this topic is complex, vulnerable, confusing, non-linear, and absolutely imperative to the health of all of our communities. The process of openly grieving, both alone as well as in community, is an art nearly lost in our culture.

In A Thousand Ways To Kiss The Ground, climbers discuss how they are learning to integrate grief into their daily lives and in effect, change the community’s collective narrative surrounding this topic. A Thousand Ways To Kiss The Ground investigates the paradoxes of grief and the grieving process while mirroring this complexity back to viewers as a starting point to destigmatize and normalize the conversation surrounding grief for climbers and non-climbers alike.

"Let the beauty we love, be what we do. There are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the ground; there are a thousand ways to go home again." -13th Century Poet Rumi

Runtime: 22 mins

Director & Producer: Henna Taylor

Cast: Alex Honnold, Tommy Caldwell, Brette Harrington, Lynn Hill, Jesse Huey, Jordan Roskelley, Angela Vanwiermeersch, Kitty Calhoun, Chris Kalous, Matt Segal, Jim Thomsen, Sky Yardeni, Guilia Luebben, Silvia Luebben, Kestrel Hansen-Neathawk, Chelsea Rude, Sam Elias.

VALHALLA

The film follows a climbing party that attempts a route of the same name.  It is a remarkable film carefully crafting the story of a father and son climbing team that weaves its way across the longest and hardest roof to date in an exotic location in Getu, China.   

The key climber is Edu Marin. Edu was raised in a climbing family with his father, Francisco, who has passed on his skills and interests to his son. This is the beginning of the journey with a clever narration mixed with cuts from the metamorphosis of Edu from a world-class plastic puller to a wild range rock climber. The narration and stunning vision assist the audience to understand this transformation as well as this unique climbing partnership. The son values his father not just as a climbing companion or a belayer, he wants to share the rope with him as his mentor and friend. It is delightful to witness visual stories that go beyond the send to examine and observe the powerful relationships that climbing can create as well as transform.

The apex of this occurs on their expedition to China with their attempt to equip and complete a 380-meter roof across a remarkable arch from one side to the other. For folks who put up routes, the gear they acquire to accomplish the task is enough to have you frothing alone. My imagination was stretched and breached as I watched Edu and Francisco take on the climb of their lives as well as the accompanying drama that such a goal brings upon those crazy enough to try.   

Valhalla is visually stunning, the story has heart and shares the depth of a special climbing partnership confronting a savage and unrelenting landscape. The film is full of epic climbing and is a tribute to those who were tasked with tying these diverse subjects together.  

Runtime: 53 mins

Directors: David López “Campe”, Esteban Lahoz, Karel Downsbrough and Sergi Latorre

Produce: Edu Marin

Cast: Edu Marín, Francisco “Novato” Marín and Álex Marín

LUCY STIRLING: OLYMPIC DREAM

Lucy Stirling has climbed things since before she could walk. At age 12 she started in the climbing gym and quickly joined a junior squad. Since then she has not stopped climbing! Lucy has gone on to win national championships and compete in multiple World Championships and World Cup events. Prior to COVID-19, Lucy was training hard to compete in the Tokyo Olympics.

This short film by Australian filmmaker Matt Raimondo follows Lucy as she sets her sights on the Olympic Dream.

Runtime: 2 minutes

Director: Matt Raimondo

Cast: Lucy Stirling

The official VERTICAL LIFE TOUR line up features 4 short films totaling 120 minutes. See the entire playlist by clicking here

• Various Filmmaker contributors

• Countries: International

• Year: 2021

• Running Time: 120 minutes