WINNER of 2015 MOUNTAINFILM CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD! In the fall of 2014, a five-person team from The North Face and National Geographic set out on an ambitious trek to summit an obscure Burmese peak, Hkakabo Razi, and determine once and for all if it is Southeast Asia’s highest point. What unfolded was a harrowing expedition that pushed the group to the brink mentally and physically and carved them down to nothing. Led by mountaineer Hilaree O’Neill, the team encountered one pitfall after another: interminable overland train rides, sketchy motorcycle trips in the rain, hellish jungle slogs, dwindling food supplies, logistical failures, howling winds, false summits, hypothermia, perilous gendarmes and — perhaps the most threatening of all — personality clashes that threatened to unravel the expedition. Down to Nothing is a searing story about the motives that drive people to tackle the insurmountable, the suffering they’ll endure for the sake of their dreams and the cracks that can appear in even the best laid plans.
Accompanying Short Films:
When Dogs Fly – Directed by Dean Potter
Dean Potter pushed the boundaries of what could be done in the climbing world for years. When Dogs Fly was Potter’s venture into uncharted territory as it follows his efforts to BASEjump off the North Face of the Eiger with his dog on his back. Yes, his dog.
Strange Rumblings (Iceland segment) – Directed by Joe G
Amazing cinematography, stunning landscapes, brave surfing and beautiful direction showcase surfers Nate Tyler, Dion Agius and Brendon Gibbens as they trace graceful lines amid icebergs in the frozen waters of Iceland.
Afterglow (lightsuit segment) – Directed by Michael Brown & Nick Waggoner
Hailed as one of the most cinematically profound ski films ever made, Afterglow is a testament to the Sweetgrass legacy of creating bold, uncompromising, creative imagery. Filmed at night in B.C. and Alaska’s backcountry with powerful lights and ski suits studded with LED lights.
Beat Down – Directed by Anson Fogel
There’s a man named Anson Fogel, and when he comes up with an idea for a short film, everyone listens. Fogel put out a call to friends last fall that simply said: “Meet me in the desert — I have an idea.” Without hesitation, his crew assembled near Moab, Utah, and pulled off one of the most extraordinary stunts in Mountainfilm Adrenaline program history. You have to see this!
Ruapehu – Directed by Mike Douglas
Sacred skiing! Out of the Central North Island of New Zealand rises a trio of volcanic mountains — Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro. The mountains lie within Tongariro National Park, created explicitly to protect the sacred beauty of the volcanic peaks. Skiers Josh Daiek, Chris Rubens and Mike Douglas wanted to be counted among those who’ve made turns on the still-active volcanoes. But these mountains don’t relinquish their spoils easily.
James Kelly, Burn it Down – Directed by Jack Boston
Pro-skater James Kelly proves once again why he’s the best — and the fastest. Thanks for skating that one so that no one else ever has to!
The Fisherman’s Son – Directed by Chris Malloy
The Fisherman’s Son is a film that explores the life of one of the best big-wave riders in the world, Ramon Navarro, following the trajectory of a boy who came from a fishing family, one of many that have long earned their livelihood from the bounty of the sea. Only this fisherman’s son found his passion riding the breaks just beyond his front door. Development is rapidly altering the waters and Chilean coastline that the Navarro family have depended on for more than a century, and he’s determined to ensure that this precious resource is available for generations to follow.
The Black Binder – Directed by John Dickey
Southwestern Colorado’s Black Canyon of the Gunnison has some of the hardest free climbing routes in the United States. Known affectionately as “The Black,” many of the routes there are long and rated with an “X” to denote that a fall on these climbs presents risk of serious injury or death. Josh Wharton has been climbing The Black since the 1980s, before an official guidebook to the area was available. Instead, he scaled nearly 100 lines and detailed them in a black binder, expanded over the years using beta from friends and hand-drawn route maps from climbing mentors who had cut their teeth on the devilish canyon walls. In 2014, Wharton became the second person to ever lead every pitch of the Hallucinogen Wall in one day, successfully completing an elusive 5.13b route. This short film captures the humor, determination and passion it takes to dedicate oneself to a project for so long and the simple joy of accomplishing the seemingly impossible.
