Saban Films has announced that they have acquired the North American rights to the adventure thriller Summit Fever, directed by BAFTA nominee Julian Gilbey, starring Ryan Phillippe (Shooter, Crash), Freddie Thorp (Fate: The Winx Saga, Overdrive), and Mathilde Warnier (The Serpent, A Very Secret Service). Saban Films’ Bill Bromiley and producer Marc Goldberg brokered the deal.
Summit Fever is produced by Andrew Loveday, Tiernan Hanby, and Marc Goldberg, andtells the story of a young English climber lured to the Alps by his friend to help him conquer “the Big Three” – the Matterhorn, the Eiger, and Mont Blanc. Despite witnessing bloody fatalities while ascending the first two peaks, they persevere onto the final climb, unaware of a deadly storm brewing on the other side of the mountain.
Currently in post-production and set in the world of extreme mountaineering, the film was shot at altitudes as high as over 3,000 meters above sea level. Turning away from the standard approach that relies heavily on green screens in film studios, Summit Fever was filmed up on the close-to-vertical Alpine cliffs. The cast were trained as climbers in preparation for the filming, which also included a night shoot on the cliffs of the intimidating Mont Blanc.
“We’re thrilled to work with such a talented director. Julian’s passion and climbing expertise are evident throughout this adrenaline-filled adventure,” said Saban Films’ Bill Bromiley. “With stellar performances from the cast who fully committed to their roles and trained to climb ahead of filming, we’re excited to share Summit Fever with North American audiences.”
The film’s director Julian Gilbey, a highly-experienced mountaineer in his spare time, said: “Summit Fever will bring the audience right to the edge. They’ll experience the same adrenaline as I do while operating the camera above thirteen thousand feet.”
The British independent feature is produced by Haymarket Films in association with Head Gear Films and Metrol Technology, LipSync, and Soho Film Development. International sales are being handled by Blue Box International, a division of Capstone.
