Three years ago, American rock climbers Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson captivated the world with their effort to climb the Dawn Wall, a seemingly impossible 3,000-foot rock face in California’s Yosemite National Park. On September 19, the SXSW Audience Award-winning documentary The Dawn Wall brings an up-close look at their unimaginable journey to movie theaters nationwide.
The Dawn Wall is a Red Bull Media House production in association with Sender Films. Distributed by The Orchard, in partnership with Fathom Events, the epic documentary comes to nearly 500 select movie theaters on September 19 at 7 p.m. (local time), through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network (DBN). For a complete list of theater locations, visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).
“Like the Dawn Wall climb itself, the making of the film has been a grand journey. I am excited to be able to share it with everyone in theaters this September,” said Tommy Caldwell.
Caldwell and Jorgeson lived on the sheer vertical cliff for weeks, igniting a frenzy of global media attention. For Caldwell, the Dawn Wall was much more than just a climb – it was the culmination of a lifetime defined by overcoming obstacles. At the age of 22, the climbing prodigy was taken hostage by rebels in Kyrgyzstan. Shortly after, he lost his index finger in an accident, but resolved to come back stronger. When his marriage fell apart, he escaped the pain by fixating on the extraordinary goal of free climbing the Dawn Wall. Blurring the line between dedication and obsession, Caldwell and his partner Jorgeson spend six years meticulously plotting and practicing their route before attempting the daunting climb.
“Caldwell’s story reminds us that the obstacles we face do not have to define us,” said Fathom Events CEO Ray Nutt. “We’re excited to bring audiences, ‘The Dawn Wall,’ the stunning visuals of their climb and Caldwell’s story of resilience that keeps you hanging on the edge of your seat throughout the film.”
“The Dawn Wall is a gripping tale of tenacity and human endeavor – and a refusal to accept anything other than achieving one’s dreams,” Global Head of Content at Red Bull Media House Jim Sayer said. “We’re delighted to be working with Fathom Events to bring this inspiring story to U.S. audiences.”
