Altitude Film Sales has announced international distribution deals for 3D Everest documentary Beyond the Edge, which has broken doc box office records in New Zealand.

The documentary, which charts the story of Sir Edmund Hillary’s ascent of Everest in 1953, has secured distribution in key territories including UK (Metrodome), German-speaking Europe (Polyband), Japan (Kadokawa) and the Middle East (Gulf). Altitude will be negotiating further sales at American Film Market.

The film, which was financed by the New Zealand Film Commission in association with NZ On Air’s Platinum Fund, TVNZ, Digifilm and Rialto Distribution, grossed NZ$320,170 on its opening weekend across 76 screens, ousting previous documentary record holder for New Zealand The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls, also directed by Beyond the Edge filmmaker Leanne Pooley.  

Mike Runagall, Managing Director of Altitude Film Sales, adds, “Following the fantastic reception that Beyond the Edge received from the public and the industry alike at its world premiere at Toronto, we knew we had a powerful and stunning film that would move audiences around the world, and are thrilled that we have secured distribution for the film in major territories and will be negotiating further deals at the American Film Market.”

Matthew Metcalfe, the film’s producer said, “Both Leanne and I are excited that New Zealand audiences of all ages have embraced the film so wholeheartedly and now look forward to people around the world taking the epic journey to the summit of Everest with Ed Hillary and Tenzing Norgay”