Factual Specials

Touching the Void

Peru, May 1985: Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, ambitious young mountaineers, set off to scale the hitherto unclimbed West Face of Siula Grande, a remote and treacherous peak in the Peruvian Andes. Simpson and Yates reach the summit but shortly after starting the descent, an accident turns their daring expedition into a desperate fight for survival.

Broadcaster:Channel 4, Film Four, PBS, UK Film Council, Pathe
Distributor:Pathe
Genre:Factual Specials
Format:1 x 90 min
Production year:2002
Executive Producer:Charles Furneaux, Paul Trijbits, Paul Webster, Robin Gutch
Produced by:John Smithson
Directed by:Kevin Macdonald
Awards:
  • 2007 – Moscow Mountaineering Film Festival, Winner of Grand Prix
  • 2004 – BAFTA, Alexandra Korda Award for Best Film
  • 2004 – British Independent Film Awards, Best Feature Documentary
  • 2004 – Evening Standard British Film Awards, Best Film
  • 2004 – British Independent Film Awards, Best Technical Achievement for Cinematography
  • 2004 – International Berg & Abenteuer Film Festival Austria, Grand Prix
  • 2004 – Trento Mountain Festiva, Italy, Grand Prix
  • 2004 – Tegernsee Film Festival Germany, Award for Sports & Action Film
  • 2004 – Tegernsee Film Festival Germany, Audience Award
  • 2003 – Kendall Mountain Film Festival, Best Film & Audience Prize
  • 2003 – Kendall Mountain Film Festival, People’s Jury Award
  • 2003 – BANFF Mountain Film Festival, Best Feature Film
  • 2003 – Festival d’Autrans France, Grand Prix Documentaire