Directors

GIOVANNI CENACCHI was born in 1963. He is a writer, climber and photographer. From 1986 until 1993 - in association with Andrea Gobetti - he edited Roc, the yearbook of the Rivista della Montagna, dedicated to climbing. In 1993 Cenacchi began to be involved in scripting, working with youngsters in an area of Bologna who were writing and producing a TV serial. Since 1997 he has been working with Mariani on Verticale, a magazine about climbing, skiing and adventure.

FULVIO MARIANI was born in 1958 in La Chaux de Fonds (Switzerland). In 1981 he began to work as cameraman for Italian Swiss Radio and TV, making various documentaries about mountains, exploration and adventure. In 1983 Mariani took part in his first expedition up the North Face of Everest. In 1985 he followed the first solo climb of Cerro Torre by Marco Pedrini, and made Cumbre, which won many awards. As a result of this film, Mariani began to work independently, specialising mainly in adventure films. He has taken part in various climbs, accompanying world famous climbers, such as Reinhold Messner, up the South face of Lhotse, where he made the documentary 2000 metri al 21° secolo, and Jerzy Kukucza; L'anno nero del serpente is his tribute to the great Polish climber. His was behind the camera in Cry of Stone by Werner Herzog and the TV series Viva Africa (RaiUno) and Overland, made in 1996. In 1995 he directed the award-winning documentaries L’uomo di legno and La strada per Olmo Lunring.

GIANLUIGI QUARTI was born in 1944. Following his debut with RAI in Milan, he is now working as a director for Italian Swiss Radio and TV in Lugano. He has been involved in the making of more than 40 films about mountains and exploration, including Fitz Roy, Due per un 8000, Cumbre and No problem Pelagic. In 1990 he directed Estate Avventura, a series about mountaineering and mountain sports. A climber and academic member of the CAI, Quarti is also a member of the CAI Central Film Commission.

The three Lavaredo peaks, in the Dolomites, feature the largest concentration of impressive overhangs in the Alpine range.

In the late fifties, European climbers engaged in a fierce competition to be the first to reach peaks that had never been climbed before.

Among the competitors were two Swiss climbers: Hugo Weber and Albin Schelbert, who attempted the ascent of the sheer West Peak rock face, in 1959.

The two climbers recall the competition that brought together the best climbers in an exciting challenge and with an unexpected twist due to the complicity of a woman…

This film has received awards at the Trento, Teplice and Banff Festivals.

Photos