Sherpas missions to retrieve climbers from Mt Everest
Everest Dark documents the quest of world-renowned mountaineer Mingma Tsiri Sherpa to retrieve fallen climbers from Everest's Death Zone.
Photo:
Kyle Sandilands
More than 300 climbers have perished attempting to summit the earth's pinnacle, Mount Everest and at least 200 bodies remain on the mountain, frozen where they fell.
A third of the dead are Sherpas. Sherpas refer to Everest as "Chomolungma" or "Mother Goddess of the World".
They believe the mountain has become angry - that there has been too much death, and the mountain has been desecrated.
Now a new movie has documented the quest of world-renowned mountaineer Mingma Tsiri Sherpa, in his life-threatening journey to retrieve fallen climbers from Everest's Death Zone.
'Everest Dark' follows the effort to reclaim the sacred mountain from decades of exploitation.
The movie was written, directed and produced by Michael Bodnarchuk and Jereme Watt.
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Tenzing Norgay Movie To Be Filmed At Aoraki/Mount Cook
Press Release – Department of Conservation Filming in New Zealand is scheduled to begin next month. The production, which has already completed scenes in Kathmandu, Nepal, will feature Tom Hiddleston as Sir Edmund Hillary, Genden Phuntsok as Tenzing Norgay, and Willem Dafoe as English expedition … Alpine landscapes within the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park will serve as the backdrop for a new biopic about Sherpa Tenzing Norgay's 1953 epic climb to the summit of Mount Everest alongside Sir Edmund Hillary. The Department of Conservation (DOC) has approved filming on Malte Brun Pass near the Tasman Glacier and near the Hochstetter Icefall on the eastern side of Aoraki/Mount Cook, which will 'double' as Everest base camp and the famous Hillary Step on the world's highest peak. 'These sites have been used for filming Everest-related documentaries and films before,' says DOC Ranger Ray Bellringer. 'All filming activities are subject to strict environmental conditions to ensure the protection of the natural landscape. DOC staff will be onsite daily to monitor compliance. This is an incredibly special place and it's our role to protect it,' he says. Bellringer also noted the long-standing relationship between New Zealand and Nepal through the Himalayan Trust, and the involvement of Nepalese students in conservation and education programs, including through Lincoln University's Parks and Recreation degree. Since 1953 around 70 Nepalese including many from the Sherpa community have come to Lincoln for study in nature-based tourism and community conservation. 'Sir Edmund Hillary dedicated much of his life after 1953 to supporting Nepalese communities,' Bellringer added. 'It is fitting that this project recognises the life and contributions of Tenzing Norgay, and we are proud to provide a setting that supports this storytelling. It's an iconic setting for an incredible story.' Filming in New Zealand is scheduled to begin next month. The production, which has already completed scenes in Kathmandu, Nepal, will feature Tom Hiddleston as Sir Edmund Hillary, Genden Phuntsok as Tenzing Norgay, and Willem Dafoe as English expedition leader John Hunt. The production is expected to bring a significant economic boost to the local area with a large production crew and cast staying in the village and surrounding area. Set construction and logistical preparations are currently underway. DOC staff will continue to work closely with the production team to ensure minimal environmental impact. Ray Bellringer says he happy Tenzing Norgay's story is getting recognition. 'We're pleased to support this movie project and help showcase it to the world. For Aoraki and the staff here to play a small part in helping to make that happen is special,' he says.


Scoop
12-06-2025
- Scoop
Tenzing Norgay Movie To Be Filmed At Aoraki/Mount Cook
Alpine landscapes within the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park will serve as the backdrop for a new biopic about Sherpa Tenzing Norgay's 1953 epic climb to the summit of Mount Everest alongside Sir Edmund Hillary. The Department of Conservation (DOC) has approved filming on Malte Brun Pass near the Tasman Glacier and near the Hochstetter Icefall on the eastern side of Aoraki/Mount Cook, which will 'double' as Everest base camp and the famous Hillary Step on the world's highest peak. 'These sites have been used for filming Everest-related documentaries and films before,' says DOC Ranger Ray Bellringer. 'All filming activities are subject to strict environmental conditions to ensure the protection of the natural landscape. DOC staff will be onsite daily to monitor compliance. This is an incredibly special place and it's our role to protect it,' he says. Bellringer also noted the long-standing relationship between New Zealand and Nepal through the Himalayan Trust, and the involvement of Nepalese students in conservation and education programs, including through Lincoln University's Parks and Recreation degree. Since 1953 around 70 Nepalese including many from the Sherpa community have come to Lincoln for study in nature-based tourism and community conservation. 'Sir Edmund Hillary dedicated much of his life after 1953 to supporting Nepalese communities,' Bellringer added. 'It is fitting that this project recognises the life and contributions of Tenzing Norgay, and we are proud to provide a setting that supports this storytelling. It's an iconic setting for an incredible story.' Filming in New Zealand is scheduled to begin next month. The production, which has already completed scenes in Kathmandu, Nepal, will feature Tom Hiddleston as Sir Edmund Hillary, Genden Phuntsok as Tenzing Norgay, and Willem Dafoe as English expedition leader John Hunt. The production is expected to bring a significant economic boost to the local area with a large production crew and cast staying in the village and surrounding area. Set construction and logistical preparations are currently underway. DOC staff will continue to work closely with the production team to ensure minimal environmental impact. Ray Bellringer says he happy Tenzing Norgay's story is getting recognition. 'We're pleased to support this movie project and help showcase it to the world. For Aoraki and the staff here to play a small part in helping to make that happen is special,' he says.

RNZ News
12-06-2025
- RNZ News
New movie to be filmed at Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
Aoraki Mount Cook. Photo: Supplied/Les Molloy Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park will provide the backdrop for a movie about Sherpa Tenzing Norgay's world-first summit of Mount Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary. The Department of Conservation (DOC) approved filming on Malte Brun Pass near the Tasman Glacier and near the Hochstetter Icefall on the eastern side of the mountain, which would double as Everest base camp and the famous Hillary Step on the world's highest peak. DOC ranger Ray Bellringer said while the sites had previously been used for Everest-related documentaries and films, the movie's producers had to adhere to strict rules. "All filming activities are subject to strict environmental conditions to ensure the protection of the natural landscape. DOC staff will be onsite daily to monitor compliance," he said. "This is an incredibly special place and it's our role to protect it." Bellringer said New Zealand and Nepal had a long relationship through the Himalayan Trust, particularly since 70 Nepalese students including many Sherpa had come to study nature-based tourism and community conservation at Lincoln University since 1953. "Sir Edmund Hillary dedicated much of his life after 1953 to supporting Nepalese communities. It is fitting that this project recognises the life and contributions of Tenzing Norgay and we are proud to provide a setting that supports this storytelling," he said. Tenzing Norgay with Sir Edmund Hillary. Photo: AFP Apple won the rights to the film Tenzing during an auction at Cannes Film Festival in May 2024. The company will co-produce the film with production company See-Saw Films for worldwide release on streaming platform Apple TV+ at an unknown date. BAFTA-nominated director Jennifer Peedom has a pre-existing connection to the Norgay family, who contributed to her documentaries Miracle on Everest and Sherpa . The script has been written by Luke Davies, known for the 2016 film Lion, which landed him an Academy Award nomination for best screenplay. Genden Phuntsok is to star as Norgay in Tenzing , while Hollywood star Tom Hiddleston will play Sir Edmund. Academy Award nominee Willem Defoe has been cast as English expedition leader John Hunt. The production is expected to bring a significant economic boost to the region, with a large production crew and cast staying at the village. Filming has concluded in Nepal and will begin in New Zealand next month. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.