Documentary tracks one of the world’s toughest trail races that aims to highlight climate change
France’s Ushuaïa TV has picked up a one-off special about The Snowman Race in Bhutan, which sees athletes trekking across 186km of mountainous terrain in the Bhutanese Himalayas over four nights and five days.
Run Against Time: The Snowman Race in Bhutan, which had its premiere screening here at Sunny Side of the Doc in La Rochelle on Monday evening, is a co-production between Japanese public broadcaster NHK, Bhutanese public broadcaster BBS, and French production company, Gedeon Programmes.
The 1 x 49-minute show tracks the race, which took place in October 2024 and saw ultra-marathon runners taking on one of the toughest challenges in the world.
The race was aimed at drawing the world’s attention to climate change and particularly on the rising waters caused by Himalayan glaciers melting, magnifying the risk of flooding.
NHK and the Bhutan Broadcasting Service teamed up to show the entire foot race for the first time, as athletes - carrying compact cameras to record first-hand footage - battling hypoxia to complete the challenge.
The distribution deal to Ushuaïa TV was made through Gédéon’s distribution outlet Terranoa.
Ushuaïa TV’s chief exec, Christophe Sommet, said the doc “affords us a competitive advantage in a crowded French TV landscape. We are proud to share the same vision to raise awareness and inspire behavior change for a better world.”
NHK producer, Shiro Kagawa, added: “Through our collaboration with BBS, we have long endeavored to convey to the world the realities faced by the people of Bhutan, using the lens of the runner as a medium.
“It is therefore a great honour to see our efforts bring us closer to that goal, and to have the opportunity for many people to watch the program and gain a deeper understanding of the situation our planet is facing.”
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