Opera Vertical is a compact, atmospheric climbing film centered on Patrick Edlinger, one of the sport’s most iconic and influential figures. Set against soaring limestone and the quiet intensity of committed movement, it captures the feeling of climbing as performance—equal parts precision, imagination, and nerve—where every sequence on the wall reads like a phrase in a larger composition.
What makes it worth your time is the way it pulls you into Edlinger’s mindset: the calm before leaving the ground, the confidence in body position, and the unmistakable style that helped define a generation. At just under half an hour, it’s an easy watch with lasting impact—an inspiring window into elegant, high-standard rock climbing that still feels fresh, and a reminder of why the best climbers look like they’re not fighting the stone, but conversing with it.
Go behind the scenes of one of the most pivotal moments in modern sport climbing in Adam Ondra - Change - Backstage movie. Filmed during the final stretch of Ondra’s months-long siege in Flatanger, Norway, this short documentary follows the crew as they chase the story of “Change” and the audacious proposed grade of 9b+, capturing the travel, logistics, and raw atmosphere surrounding a first ascent that helped redefine what seemed possible on rock.
What makes this worth your time is its perspective: not a polished highlight reel, but the messy, human process of creating one. You’ll see the tension between performance and patience, the decisions filmmakers make in real time, and the small moments that build the myth—weather windows, long days, and the camaraderie of a tight team moving through Scandinavia. If you love climbing films, this is the rare companion piece that deepens the main event and leaves you feeling closer to both the route and the people trying to do it justice.
Arc'teryx - Viva La Vie follows American climber Jonathan Siegrist as he travels to France to trace the roots of modern sport climbing, drawn to the storied limestone of the Verdon Gorge. Joined by Swiss star Nina Caprez, the pair set their sights on the canyon’s hardest lines, blending partnership, pressure, and pure movement as the gorge’s steep walls demand everything they’ve got.
What makes this short film hit is its balance of high-end climbing and the quieter moments in between—the ones that reveal why people keep coming back to the rock. With cinematic direction from Andy Mann and Keith Ladzinski and a crisp, energetic edit, it’s a compact dose of big atmosphere, bold attempts, and the unexpected meaning that can show up mid-journey when you’re not searching for it.
WEST COAST PIMP is a sun-baked California bouldering showcase from Steve Montesanto that captures a raw, turn-of-the-century slice of the scene—originally released on VHS in 2000 and now back as a digital throwback. Over 1 hour and 14 minutes, it follows climbers across classic West Coast blocs, celebrating the grit, style, and improvisation that defined bouldering before HD polish and social feeds.
What makes it worth watching is exactly what the creator calls out: it’s crude, a little rough around the edges, and totally honest. The “so-so” quality becomes part of the time-capsule charm, letting the movement and the vibe take center stage—chalky hands, desert light, and the simple obsession of trying hard on stone. If you want a nostalgic look at bouldering’s roots and a reminder that great climbing doesn’t need perfect production, this one delivers.
Mid-winter at Smith Rock, Oregon, 13-year-old Drew Ruana steps onto the steep, iconic line of Scarface (5.14a/8b+) with a single goal: link it from bottom to top. Filmed on a family climbing trip and captured by the christineruana channel, this 20-minute session follows Drew’s redpoint of the route on 2-23-13—an age-defying performance made even more striking given his height at the time (about 4'8.5" / 143.5 cm).
What makes this worth watching is the pure, unvarnished reality of hard climbing: the pacing, the attempts, the micro-adjustments, and the calm commitment it takes to fight through cruxes when every move counts. Scarface demands precision and confidence, and Drew’s effort is a reminder that strength is only part of the equation—focus, efficiency, and determination are what turn a try into a send. Turn it up to 1080 HD, settle in, and enjoy a classic Smith Rock redpoint with serious inspiration baked into every sequence.
Andy Cave and Gary Kinsey head into Scotland’s winter arena to climb Waterfall Gully (IV,4) on Ben Nevis. In this short Hot Aches Productions film, you get a fast, focused look at two seasoned climbers moving up a classic icy line in the build-up to “Climbing Night” at the Fort William Mountain Festival.
It’s worth watching for the pure winter-climbing atmosphere: the bite of the cold, the rhythm of tools and crampons, and the calm efficiency that turns steep, frozen terrain into upward progress. Whether you’re an ice-climbing obsessive or just curious about what makes Ben Nevis such a proving ground, this quick hit delivers inspiration, stoke, and a taste of big mountain conditions in just over two minutes.
Adam Ondra, Chaxiraxi, 9b drops you into the intense, razor-thin margins of cutting-edge sport climbing as Adam Ondra takes on the Spanish testpiece Chaxiraxi (9b). In under eleven minutes, this short film captures the focus, patience, and precision required when every move is at the limit and every mistake has consequences.
What makes it worth watching is the pure, unfiltered feel of a hard redpoint: the quiet moments of composure, the sudden bursts of power, and the mental reset after each fight for progress. Whether you’re a grade-chaser or just love seeing what’s possible on stone, this is a fast, satisfying hit of elite climbing—an up-close look at commitment, control, and the thrill of sticking the crux when it counts.
Chris Sharma - Witness The Fitness, V15 drops you into the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas for a front-row look at Sharma’s first ascent of the legendary roof problem “Witness The Fitness.” Pulled from Dosage Volume 3, this short film captures the intensity and creativity required to unlock one of the steepest, most iconic boulder lines ever climbed.
What makes it unmissable is the combination of raw difficulty and unmistakable style: a full-body fight through a wildly overhanging roof where every move looks improbable until it sticks. At just over five minutes, it’s a concentrated hit of motivation—pure bouldering power, precision, and commitment—showing why this V15 has become a benchmark that’s been repeated only a handful of times.
