The Last First: Winter K2 2026

Synopsis

The race to conquer mountaineering's last great trophy, K2 in winter, has claimed several lives. It has brought to light deep divisions within contemporary mountaineering: the pressure of commercialization, the damaging effects of social media, and latent tensions between marginalized climbers and those who have always profited from the sport's glory. The documentary filmmaker tells a complex, poignant, and moving story that deciphers the extreme mountaineering industry and the evolution of its culture. The story focuses on a 2021 expedition: Icelandic climbers John Snorri Sigurjónsson and Pakistani father-and-son duo Muhammad Ali and Sajid Sadpara set out to conquer K2 in winter. They quickly find themselves sharing this perilous ascent with influencers and their film crews, clients of commercial expeditions, and Nims, a renowned Nepalese mountaineer, and his team of Sherpas.