On January 11 of this year, phone calls and emails ricocheted through our offices and to the extended Mountainfilm family: Did you hear Sir Edmund Hillary had died?

None of us were shocked, but all of us were saddened by the death of one of the great men of the twentieth century. Between his mountaineering accomplishments and his deep and abiding interest in—and support of—mountain culture, Sir Edmund Hillary epitomized so much of what we stand for here at Mountainfilm.

Acclaimed filmmaker and mountaineer David Breashears (Remnants of Everest) knew Sir Ed well. We are deeply grateful to David for putting together this special tribute with film clips and testimonials from people who knew the man in a variety of ways.

Rick Silverman, who was festival director when Hillary came to Mountainfilm in 1995, will introduce the program. The details are being finalized as we write, but among other notables, Norbu Tenzing, the son of the great Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, will also attend.
- David Holbrooke