National Geographic’s Free Solo wins Oscar doco

National Geographic-produced film Free Solo, has picked up the Academy Award for Best Documentary. It follows from a recent BAFTA win.

The film profiles solo climber Honnold as he climbs the face of the 975m (3,200-foot) El Capitan in Yosemite National Park … without a rope. It will screen on National Geographic on Sunday March 10.

This enjoyed a theatrical release last month and will now screen commercial-free on National Geographic, as part of a global rollout in 172 countries.

“When we were making this film, we could not have imagined the response we have received,” said directors Vasarhelyi and Chin. “While most of us would not dream of free-soloing 3,000 feet, Alex’s story of courage, dedication and determination is very relatable. We are grateful to be working with National Geographic and Fox Home Entertainment and thrilled that Alex’s journey will continue to inspire others to dare to dream.”

Carolyn Bernstein, EVP of global scripted content and documentary films for National Geographic, shared the news at the Television Critics Association press tour in California, during a special presentation with film subject Alex Honnold in attendance.

From award-winning documentary filmmaker Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and world-renowned photographer and mountaineer Jimmy Chin, the directors of the Oscar-shortlisted film “Meru,” comes Free Solo, a stunning, intimate and unflinching portrait of the free soloist climber Honnold as he prepares to achieve his lifelong dream: climbing the face of the world’s most famous rock … the 3,200-foot El Capitan in Yosemite National Park … without a rope.

Free Solo is an edge-of-your-seat thriller and an inspiring story of an athlete who challenges both his body and his beliefs on a quest to triumph over the impossible, revealing the personal toll of excellence. As the climber begins his training, the armour of invincibility he has built up over decades unexpectedly breaks apart when Honnold begins to fall in love, threatening his focus and giving way to injury and setbacks. Vasarhelyi and Chin beautifully capture deeply human moments with Honnold as well as the death-defying climb with exquisite artistry and masterful, vertigo- inducing camerawork. The result is a triumph of the human spirit.

Since its Australian theatrical release on January 24, Free Solo has grossed over $1 million and is slated to be one of Australia’s highest grossing documentaries in 2019. Globally, the theatrical release set several US box office records, including the highest per screen average of any documentary during its opening weekend (Sept. 28, 2018) and the highest box office for a documentary in its 19th weekend in release. Now, as it enters its 20th week in release, the film is the second highest grossing documentary of 2018 in the United States (and the top-grossing Oscar nominee), the highest grossing documentary of 2018 in the United Kingdom and one of the top 20 documentaries of all time in the United States and Australia. It has been honoured with three US Critics Choice awards, three Cinema Eye awards, an American Cinema Editors (ACE) award for Best Documentary and Producers Guild of America (PGA) and Directors Guild of America (DGA) nominations, among several other industry recognitions.

The film was named one of the top 10 films of the year by Entertainment Weekly and was praised by critics across the globe as “one of the most arresting documentaries of the year,” “extraordinary,” “amazing” and “visually staggering.”

“In addition to being an inspiring message of perseverance and determination, Free Solo is also a stunning cinematic achievement that showcases the beauty and grandeur of our national parks,” said Bernstein. “The film serves as a powerful reminder that it is incumbent upon all of us to protect the natural world around us.”

To further spread Honnold’s inspirational message, National Geographic, in partnership with Picture Motion and 360 Communications, arranged screenings for over 7,000 students, educators, climbing gyms and community members across 17 US cities from 114 schools and 19 organisations. Students especially have been incredibly moved by Honnold’s story, with many letters and videos pouring in and one school in New York even re-creating parts of the climb on its jungle gym.

Free Solo first debuted at the Telluride Film Festival, went on to screen at the Toronto International Film Festival to rave reviews and has screened at more than 30 film festivals around the world, including IDFA, Adelaide, Mill Valley Film Festival, DOC NYC and the Savannah Film Festival.

Sunday March 10 7:30pm on National Geographic.