Sky commissions Kristin Harila record-breaking climb documentary

Sky Documentaries has commissioned documentary Savage Mountain, which tells the true story behind Kristin Harila’s record-breaking climb of the world’s 14 highest mountains and the controversy that followed.

Savage Mountain documents Harila’s journey from a relative newcomer to a multiple world-record holder as she takes on one of the most ambitious challenges in mountaineering history.

While each of the 14 peaks expeditions typically takes two months to complete, Harila managed to reach the summit of all mountains in just 92 days, halving the record held previously by Nims Purja. Harila shared the record with her climbing partner, the Nepalese Tenjen Lama Sherpa.

Purja’s achievement was documented in Noah Media’s hit Netflix documentary, 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible.

Harila, however, became the focus of worldwide controversy when footage from K2 surfaced, showing a column of climbers, including Harila, stepping over an injured Pakistani porter, Mohammad Hassan.

Harila was accused of stepping over a dying man, in her rush to break the record and the news triggered a global backlash and fierce debate about ambition, ethics, and who was controlling the narrative. 

Harila said: “This climb changed my life in unforeseen ways, with consequences I’m still processing today — but it also led me to Lama, whose trust and friendship I will never forget. While much has been said in the media, Savage Mountain gives space to the parts of the story that haven’t been heard. I hope audiences will come away with a deeper understanding of the full picture.”

Hayley Reynolds, head of documentary commissioning at Sky, adds: “Savage Mountain goes beyond the headlines, combining intimate access with unseen footage to explore the story at the centre of an extraordinary and complex climb, and the events that followed. We’re proud to work with Field Productions and Full Story Films to bring the story of Kristin and Lama’s record-breaking climb to Sky Documentaries.”

Savage Mountain is directed by Even Sigstad and produced by Filip Christensen of Field Productions, with support from the Norwegian Film Institute. It is a co-production between Field Productions and Full Story Films, Sky News’ premium long-form documentary unit.

The series was commissioned by Hayley Reynolds for Sky Documentaries. Executive producers are Vesna Cudic, Siobhan Sinnerton, P.G. Morgan, and Marina Zenovich.

Savage Mountain will air on Sky and streaming service NOW in 2026.