_films
‘LEARNING TO DROWN’ / FELT SOUL MEDIA
executive producer
Considered one of the most influential action sports athletes in the world, Jess Kimura was at the top of her game when tragedy struck. As everything came crashing down, her grief led her down a path she could have never imagined.
awards:
tribeca film festival official selection
People's Choice Award at Indy Shorts in Indianapolis
‘SUMMER OF WONDER’ / THE GINGER RUNNER
executive producer
Description:
94 miles. 24,000 feet of climbing. the average thru-hiker completes the wonderland trail in 10 - 14 days. the north face team athlete and trail runner Kaytlyn Gerbin’s goal? 19 hours and the fastest known time.
‘BREAKING 20’ / MOUNTAIN LEGACY
executive producer
The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc is one of the most grueling trail races in the world. After winning in 2019 with a course-record time of 20:19:07, team athlete and ultra runner Pau Capell had one mission in mind: run the 106-mile trail in under 20 hours.
executive producer
It's not about these summits, it's about these experiences in the mountains with my friends and communities, having conversations about what it feels like to be a minority in the mountains…” Last winter, Vasu Sojitra and his two friends Emilé Zynobia and Zahan Billimoria set out to ski Mt. Moran—in the process, reshaped the conversation around disability in the outdoors.
‘THE NORTH FACE PRESENTS: FACETS’ / SHERPAS CINEMA
executive producer
Each of us are part of a greater whole, a community that grows stronger together especially when it’s open to all. Leanne Pelosi, Jess Kimura, Marion Haerty, Mary Rand, and Amanda Hankison show us just that. A unique look at these inspiring athletes that make up one hell of a portfolio. This one is for the next generation of riders carving their own paths.
‘THE GHOSTS ABOVE’ / EXPEDITION STUDIOS
executive producer
In “The Ghosts Above,” Sony Artisan photographer and filmmaker Renan Ozturk join an expedition to solve the Mount Everest mystery of who reached the summit first.
‘HOW TO: CAMPING WITH JIM ZELLERS AND ALEX HONNOLD’ / TOP TOP STUDIOS
Creative Director
Camping is just about the best way to truly experience somewhere wild. The North Face athletes Jim Zellers and Alex Honnold, have some great advice for first-timers.
‘HOW TO: BACKPACKING WITH JIM ZELLERS AND ALEX HONNOLD’ / TOP TOP STUDIOS
Creative Director
The North Face athletes Jim Zellers and Alex Honnold are here to give you advice so you can check out, unplug and spend some time listening to the birds.
‘HOW TO: HIKING WITH JIM ZELLERS AND ALEX HONNOLD’ / TOP TOP STUDIOS
Creative Director
Hiking doesn’t have to be intimidating, it’s really just a fancy name for “walking in nature.” The North Face Athlete Team members Jim Zellers and Alex Honnold have some great advice for first-time hikers, where they discuss things to consider and how to approach hiking.
‘THE NORTH FACE PRESENTS: PERSPECTIVES, INGRID BACKSTROM’ / SHERPAS CINEMA
Creative Director
Are you a mother or a skier? Professional skier Ingrid Backstrom struggled with this question when having kids and balancing a career. By pursuing both, she learned that it is only you who can define who you are.
‘THE NORTH FACE PRESENTS: PERSPECTIVES, FRED CAMPBELL’ / SHERPAS CINEMA
Creative Director
Fred Campbell was on a one-way track towards a career in professional football until an injury changed his life forever. In his recovery, he found love in climbing and realized that another door opens when one door closes.
‘THE NORTH FACE PRESENTS: PERSPECTIVES, SAM SMOOTHY’ / SHERPAS CINEMA
Creative Director
Life in the fast lane has its consequences - and sometimes it’s only a crash that makes you slow down. As was the case for skier Sam Smoothy who, after an accident, last season, realized after that it’s not necessarily the speed you’re going but the time you’re spending getting there.
‘THE NORTH FACE PRESENTS: PITUMARCA, PERU’ / LOUDER THAN 11
Creative Director
Something is considered whole only when a collection of little things come together. Emily Harrington, Nina Williams, Matty Hong, & Jacopo Larcher travel to Pitumarca, Peru, to climb the inspiring walls of the Andes Mountains. This is a celebration of a place, a sport, a group of friends, and all of those little things.
‘THE NORTH FACE PRESENTS: PERSPECTIVES, LEANNE PELOSI’ / SHERPAS CINEMA
Creative Director
A full-ride scholarship. A spot on Canada's Junior National soccer team. Team athlete and snowboarder Leanne Pelosi had it all. Then a car accident and the aftermath took it all away—shifting her perspective for good.
‘THE NORTH FACE PRESENTS: PERSPECTIVES, COREE WOLTERING’ / SHERPAS CINEMA
Creative Director
The North Face athlete and ultrarunner Coree Woltering thought he knew what it meant to be a runner until an injury while seeking a record-breaking time across a 1,147-mile trail unearthed a whole new meaning.
‘THE NORTH FACE PRESENTS: PERSPECTIVES, RENAN OZTURK’ / SHERPAS CINEMA
Creative Director
Climbing has always fed artist and filmmaker Renan Ozturk's soul. But it was his travels into far-off places that created an undying passion for human connection, cross-cultural understanding, and storytelling.
‘THE NORTH FACE PRESENTS: LHOTSE’ / FIELD DAY PRODUCTIONS
Executive Producer
It’s not always what we achieve that defines us, rather it is why we achieve such things that creates clarity in our existence. In 2018, Hilaree Nelson and Jim Morrison completed the first ski descent of the 27,940-foot Lhotse, the fourth-highest mountain in the world. This is their story.
Awards:
Eoft Official Selection
Vimeo Staff Pick
Vimeo Staff Pick of the Month
Banff Film Festival Official Selection
2019 Powder Award Best Documentary
‘THE NORTH FACE PRESENTS: THE INVISIBLE WALL’ / VICE SPORTS MEDIA
Executive Producer
Three of the world's top ultra runners explored the border between the United States and Mexico and met the people who call it home. Mike Foote, Mario Mendoza and Mauricio Carvajal teamed up to make a journey across North America, stopping in Big Bend National Park, Tijuana and select destinations in between. Along the way they met cattle ranchers, members of Tohono O’odham Nation and runners from across two nations.
‘AARON MIKE AND OUR COMMON GROUNDS’ / KALAKALA ANIMATIONS
Creative Director
Aaron Mike, owner of Pangaea Mountain Guides and community advocate, shows us how our shared love of outdoor spaces crosses user groups and provide a common ground for connection.\
‘ROYZELL WATSON JR. AND THE WALLS WE ALL SHARE’ / KALAKALA ANIMATION
Creative Director
Through climbing, Royzell Watson Jr. found a vertical common ground at Memphis Rox Climbing.
‘ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING FOR KIDS & LAS CHICAS QUE ESCALAN’ / KALAKALA ANIMATION
Creative Director
The formation of Las Chicas Que Escalan, the climbing club run by Environmental Learning for Kids, shows us that the importance of climbing is not solely in the feat but in community that helps get you there.
‘THE NORTH FACE PRESENTS: DEFIANCE’ / SHERPAS CINEMA
Executive Producer
The path of progression is paved with acts of defiance. Leanne Pelosi, Jake Blauvelt, and Victor de Le Rue take the stage in British Columbia in a showcase of shred. Learn more:
Awards:
Banff Film Festival Official Selection
‘Best of Mountain Sports’ at Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival
Vimeo Staff Pick
Vimeo Staff Pick of the Month
2020 New Zealand Mountain Film Festival Best Snow Sports Film
‘WALLS ARE MEANT FOR CLIMBING’ / KALAKALA ANIMATION
Director
Since 1966, The North Face has viewed walls not as obstacles, but as opportunities. They believe in a world that is united by difference, bound by empathy, and strengthened by understanding.
'QUEEN MAUD LAND’ / CEDAR WRIGHT PRODUCTION
Executive Producer
Highlighted in the Reel Rock 13 trailer, ‘Queen Maud Land’ is the story of The North Face’s Antarctica expedition featuring Anna Pfaff, Savannah Cummins, Cedar Wright, Alex Honnold, Jimmy Chin and Conrad Anker.
Awards:
2019 Mountain Film Charlie Fowler Best Adventure Film
Creative Director
The North Face is here because of where we came from – the place that gave us our truths, that challenged us, that showed us the way. It is a place they’ll never forget and one that they’ll carry with us wherever we go.
‘IMAGINATION’ / SHERPAS CINEMA
Executive Producer
Awards:
2018 Vimeo best of the year
Silver Canne Lion
Gold Clio
Director
Back in 2017, The North Face sent a group of climbers to Queen Maud Land, Antarctica to explore one of the most remote ranges in the world.
‘MENTORS: HILAREE NELSON’ / TAYLOR REES
Creative Director
A conversation with The North Face team captain, Hilaree Nelson, on her experience in the outdoors and leading from the top of the mountain.
Awards:
2019 Mountain Film Official Selection
‘MENTORS: RUTH BEATTY’ / TAYLOR REES
Creative Director
Vulnerability is an essential ingredient to progress. As a designer, Ruth Beatty understands that creative risk allows for the evolution of ideas.
‘MENTORS: RUE MAPP’ / TAYLOR REES
Creative Director
Founder and CEO of Outdoor Afro, Rue Mapp talks about her journey to inspire African American connections and leadership in nature.
‘MENTORS: HILLARY ALLEN’ / TAYLOR REES
Creative Director
After a harrowing accident, ultra runner Hillary Allen began a journey to recovery that allowed her to discover the true meaning of strength.
‘WALLS ARE MEANT FOR CLIMBING: MAUREEN BECK’ / KALAKALA ANIMATIONS
Creative Director
Disability was never a word Maureen Beck related to. As a one-handed climber, she’s learned walls don’t really care who you are.
‘A LOVE LETTER TO WINTER’ / SHERPAS CINEMA
Creative Director
The North Face’s Snow Team Edit
Awards:
Vimeo Staff Pick
‘WALLS ARE MEANT FOR CLIMBING: KEN YAGER’ / KALAKALA ANIMATIONS
Creative Director
The man behind Yosemite Facelift, Ken Yager, found his life in climbing at a young age. His journey led him to deduce that walls are a source for community where people come together to make the places we play better off.
‘WALLS ARE MEANT FOR CLIMBING: MARGO HAYES’ / KALAKALA ANIMATIONS
Creative Director
There are a lot of different ways around a wall, but straight up demands a pretty creative solution. Margo Hayes finds her purpose and community through the off-beat artists who make it beautiful.
‘WALLS ARE MEANT FOR CLIMBING: MONSERRAT MATEHUALA’ / KALAKALA ANIMATIONS
Creative Director
Where Monserrat Matehuala was born, there are no mountains. She found them through climbing. Since then, she’s learned the largest walls she and her community face are not made of rock, but those society has put up.
Creative producer
(Link removed for licensing)
Awards:
Vimeo Staff Pick
‘WALLS ARE MEANT FOR CLIMBING: ALEX HONNOLD’ / KALAKALA ANIMATIONS
Creative producer
Alex Honnold gets animated about life, death, climbing and the elusive El Cap mouse people.
Awards:
Vimeo Staff Pick