Experiencing Interruptions?

Invisible Summit

Zhang Hong is an eternal hustler who comes from a poor family in China and lost his sight when he was only 21-year-old. While his wife aspires to a peaceful life, Zhang Hong keeps trying to be successful in order to prove himself and to bring a better life for his family. Now as he works as a blind masseur in Tibet, a typical work for a disabled person in China, the now 45-year-old family man ventures out for something not so ordinary: climbing Mount Everest. By preparing this expedition for the past five years he hopes to finally turn his luck around. Physical challenges, lack of financial support, and concerns from family and friends are all dilemmas on the road to his dream.

  • Lixin Fan
    Director
    Last Train Home, Earth One Amazing Day, Ways to School
  • Lixin FAN
    Writer
    Last Train Home, Earth One Amazing Day, Ways to School
  • Xinran NING
    Producer
  • Song HE
    Producer
  • Bo WANG
    Producer
  • Hong Zhang
    Key Cast
    "Self (blind mountaineer)"
  • Zi Qiang
    Key Cast
    "Self (mountain guide)"
  • Zhen (Rocker) WANG
    Director of Photography
  • Zhuqing KANG
    Music
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    看不见的顶峰
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Genres:
    mountain, social story, adventure, love story
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 28 minutes 5 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 1, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    300,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    China
  • Country of Filming:
    China, Nepal
  • Language:
    Chinese, English, Nepali
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Distribution Information
  • InHope Pictures
    Sales Agent
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Lixin Fan

Lixin grew up in Wuhan and has always been surrounded by moving pictures. His family was working in a film state studio, and they were in charge of distributing movies across the town’s cinemas, at a time when it was often the only way to watch movies and televisions were scarce.

Later on he became a journalist for CCTV and worked in Guangzhou for several years. As he worked in Guangzhou in the late 2000’s he filmed his first feature documentary film LAST TRAIN HOME about China’s migrant workers and their plight to raise their family. It was an instant in film festivals across the globe with over 60 awards ; the most prestigious being «best feature documentary film» at the USA Emmy Awards and Holland International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam. From this international recognition, he was named in the «World’s 20 Most Talented Directors Under 40» in 2013 By the New York Times.

Between 2012 and 2018 Lixin worked on several Chinese and international documentary projects for cinema and television as a director and a producer. Those films went on winning awards and being distributed by the most prestigious television such as BBC, France Television or CCTV.

In 2018 Lixin cofounded InHope Pictures in order to help more Chinese talents in the field of content creation with an international mindset while keep working on his projects. Despite Covid-19 and what is has brought to the world economy, the company has already produced 7 projects declined in various forms with important Chinese players. In 2022, he just finished completing his upcoming film, INVISIBLE SUMMIT.

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Director Statement

Invisible Summit is a Direct Cinéma (“fly on the wall”) style film, quietly observing Zhang Hong’s daily interactions and training all around China and Nepal. Yet at the same time, Zhang Hong and close circle might address the camera. By doing that, we hope to gain a texture of intimacy that will help establish a more personal connection between the audience and the subject. In April 2021 we followed Zhang Hong and his guide on their way to Nepal to challenge Mount Everest from the southern slope.

The film crew tracked their odyssey to the top using the most various camera (Sony Fx6, Insta 360) that will bring to the closest of the hike. Especially on the most epic part of the expedition that are the Khumbu icefall that need to be crossed by ladders over 50 meters crevasse and the last part of the hike from Base Camp 4 (8000 m) to the summit. At the same time, in order to embrace the beauty of the Himalayas, we used the latest drone technology from DJI and took the most breathtaking views up to 7000 meters.

Zhang Hong once said: “I can’t see the world, but I wish the world could somehow see me”. I think this would resonate with many of us. After all, only when we have the courage to confront those invisible fears deep in our hearts, can we take on those seemingly invincible summits in our lives.