SDFF, Trim Tab Media and Rialto Cinemas® collaborative Doc Night series will continue on April 11 at Sebastopol’s Rialto Cinemas® with a screening and discussion of The Dawn Wall, followed by a discussion with filmmaker/climber Kevin Jorgeson.
The Dawn Wall captures American rock climbers Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson’s 2015 attempt to climb The Dawn Wall, a seemingly impossible 3,000 foot rock face in Yosemite. Their goal was to do the first free ascent of Dawn Wall, one of the last major sections of El Capitan that remained unclimbed. The pair lived on the sheer vertical cliff for weeks, igniting a frenzy of global media attention.
But for Tommy 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. On the final attempt, with the world watching, Caldwell is faced with a moment of truth. Should he abandon his partner to fulfill his ultimate dream, or risk his own success for the sake of their friendship?
Doc Night is a new monthly screening series featuring award-winning documentaries about the environment, social justice, adventure, art and music. Each screening will feature an independent documentary, followed by a conversation and Q&A with the filmmaker and a post-show gathering at Fern Bar.
Doc Night is a co-presentation of Trim Tab, Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival, and Rialto Cinemas®.