alpenbock

Bring this story to the BIG screen!

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"Alpenbock" is not just a film; it's a legacy project that honors the rich history and enduring spirit of rock climbing in Big & Little Cottonwood Canyons in Utah. As climbing continues to evolve, the routes and the passion for where we climb remain the same. We have a challenge and responsibility to preserve and protect these iconic climbing landscapes, rich with historical value.

Because we can save a place a thousand times, but lose it only once.

This is the story of University of Utah first ascensionists in the 1960s and the respective group they formed– The Alpenbock Club.

This is a story of passion, grit, culture, and climbing ethics.

Made in partnership with Headlamp Studios

DIRECTORS STATEMENT

I learned to climb on real rock, and to this day I don’t spend much time in the gym. In fact, the biggest benefit I get from climbing is fresh air and an intimate connection with nature. That’s what this film is really about, at its core. Centuries turn, and new generations of people fill the shoes left by their ancestors, but some things remain, transcending the fleeting human cycle. What’s still there when all the people on earth have been replaced by their great-great-grandchildren? What is the cost of being unaware of that connection? Creatively, the challenge will be working around lack of footage from the 1950s and 60s. To fill in the gaps, our team of animators will develop a cohesive style that represents the culture, attitude, and timeframe, bringing the textures of the Alpenbock Scrapbook to life. We are lucky to have dozens of key characters alive to pass down their history, a legacy which has only been told around the campfire. It is our responsibility to gather these voices and put them on the record, before their great-grandchildren step into their shoes for good.

- Simon Fraser