The Ascent

At just eight-years-old, Queensland adventurer Alyssa Azar became the youngest person to cross the Kakoda track in Papua New Guinea. At twelve, she conquered Australia’s ten highest peaks and then, at fourteen, Mt. Kilimanjaro. It was after this milestone that Alyssa would realise a life-defining dream: to summit Mount Everest. Twice this dream has been impeded by disaster. In 2014, Alyssa survived the avalanche that killed sixteen Sherpa and, in 2015, the Nepal earthquake that killed twenty-two climbers to become the deadliest disaster in the mountain’s history. In 2016, 19-year-old Alyssa will return to Everest to make her third attempt at becoming the youngest Australian to summit Earth’s highest peak. The Ascent documents the final weeks in the lead up to Alyssa’s departure to Nepal, offering a rare glimpse into the unique regime and inspiring mindset of Australia’s boldest young adventurer. (Mezinárodní festival outdoorových filmů)