The Summit is a 2012 documentary film about the 2008 K2 disaster, directed by Nick Ryan. It combines documentary footage with dramatized recreations of the events of the K2 disaster, during which – on the way to and from the summit – 11 climbers died during a short time span, creating one of the worst catastrophes in climbing history.
The Summit
The Summit
Reconstructions were filmed on the North face of the Eiger and on the Jungfraujoch glacier in Switzerland in March 2011. Pemba Gyalje Sherpa was present for the reconstructions along with Chhiring Dorje Sherpa, Pasang Lama and Tshring Lama, all of whom were on K2 in August 2008 during the events.
Footage from the various teams was used including Ger McDonnell, Wilco Van Rooijen, Alberto Zerain, Hoselito Bite and Frederik Strang.
Behind the Scenes of The Summit
Throughout work on the summit we kept a record of the work that went into bringing the feature film to life. From our journey through Pakistan to film K2, to the composing and recording of the soundtrack, to the effects work that went into bringing the film’s most dynamic moments to life.
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Filming in Pakistan
From the relative quiet of our offices to the winding and treacherous Karakorum Highway littered with the carcas’ of vehicles hundreds of feet below the mountain road. To a world record breaking helicopter flight to film the towering peak of K2.
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The Reconstructions
An in depth look at how some of the most dynamic and harrowing moments from the story were recreated to bring the audience onto the mountain in that fateful 24 hours.
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The Music
Composer, Nick Seymour and Director, Nick Ryan. Talk about what it took to bring the score for The Summit to life.
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The 2010 Test Shoot
Where the visual style of the recreation scenes was solidified on the Eiger in Switzerland. This shoot, before full production began, was designed to determine if we could realistically recreate the key moments on K2 in the Himalayas by shooting in the Swiss alps.
