SHERPA screened at many international festivals including Telluride, Toronto, London, Sydney, Melbourne. It won numerous awards, including the Grierson award for best documentary at the London Film Festival. It was nominated for a BAFTA award for best feature documentary.
Sherpa released theatrically in 2016, becoming the 3rd Highest Grossing Australian documentary of all time. An international broadcast followed on Discovery Channel in 220 countries. See the official Facebook page for further release details: www.facebook.com/sherpafilm
Official Website: www.sherpafilm.com
SYNOPSIS: Images of climbers perched on the precipitous white slopes of Everest have spoken to us of bravery and camaraderie since New Zealander Edmund Hillary's and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay's summit triumph in 1953. The smiling duo, posing in goggles and parkas, have become an icon for team spirit. In 2013, the world's media reported on a shocking mountain-high brawl as European climbers fled a mob of angry Sherpas. Director Jennifer Peedom and her team set out to uncover the cause of this altercation, intending to film the 2014 climbing season from the Sherpas' point of view. Instead, they captured Everest's greatest tragedy, when a huge block of ice crashed down onto the climbing route, killing 16 Sherpas. For the Himalayan workers repeatedly traversing the mountain carrying supplies, the risk of this hazardous endeavor is multiplied. This stunning documentary, shot by high-altitude cinematographer Renan Ozturk, explores the unequal relationship between cashed-up foreign expeditions and their guides. It is also a story of family and tradition, as exemplified by Phurba Tashi Sherpa, an experienced climber at the heart of this commanding film.
(Synopsis from Sydney Film Festival Program)