Apple Original Films has secured global rights to the gripping Sundance selection “The Last First: Winter K2,” expanding its ambitious documentary slate with a story that scales both physical and emotional extremes.
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Amir Bar-Lev, the film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews, hailed as “gripping,” “engrossing,” and “absolutely stunning.” Known for his nuanced storytelling, Bar-Lev turns his lens on the perilous world of extreme mountaineering, capturing a 2021 winter expedition to summit K2 — widely considered one of the most dangerous climbs on Earth.
At the heart of the documentary are Icelandic climber John Snorri Sigurjónsson and Pakistani father-son duo Ali Sadparaand Sajid Sadpara. As they pursue a historic first winter summit, they share the mountain with commercial teams, influencer climbers, and Nepalese mountaineer Nirmal Purja and his Sherpas — revealing tensions shaped by ambition, class, money, and power.
Produced by Propagate Content, Ventureland, and Object Studios, the film explores the human cost of ambition under life-or-death conditions. As producers Ben Silverman and Howard T. Owens note, it’s ultimately a story about “the people left searching for answers” — now poised to reach a global audience.
