From Climbing · Maya Silver · · 1m 50s
Reel Rock Turns 20: Climbing Film Tour's Origins
Reel Rock's 20-year journey from Colorado College to global climbing films.
In brief
Reel Rock's 20-year journey from Colorado College to global climbing films. Reel Rock's founders created a film tour that turned climbing from 'watching a car rust' into character-driven stories over two decades. Originally reported by Climbing.
Reel Rock's 20th anniversary
Reel Rock premieres at Boulder Theater on October 22, 2026, marking 20 years of climbing films.
Founders meet at Colorado College
Nick Rosen and Peter Mortimer met Josh Lowell at Colorado College in the early 2000s to create a climbing film tour.
First Reel Rock film
First Ascent: The Movie documented Didier Berthod on Cobra Crack (5.14) and Dean Potter on Epitaph (5.13b).
Early Reel Rock films
Reel Rock captured David Lama's deep water solo FA in Thailand and Timmy O'Neill's urban ape-style climbs.
Reel Rock's filmmaking ethos
Nick Rosen says Reel Rock defies the analogy that watching climbing is as entertaining as watching a car rust.
Sender Films' other projects
Sender Films produced award-winning documentaries including The Alpinist and Valley Uprising, and The Dark Wizard on HBO.
Reel Rock's evolution
Reel Rock films have expanded beyond climbing into social issues like African American climbers in Memphis Rocks and Palestinian climbers.
Favorite films
Nick Rosen highlights Resistance Climbing and Point of No Return as top Reel Rock films from 20 years of work.
Tragedy in 2008
An avalanche killed Nick Rosen's close friends Jonny Copp, Micah Dash, and crew member Wade Johnson in China in 2008.
How often they disagree
Peter Mortimer and Nick Rosen have creative disagreements but respect each other's creative contributions.
Future of Reel Rock
Reel Rock founders hope young filmmakers take over the tour to keep it relevant for future generations.
The bottom line
Reel Rock's founders created a film tour that turned climbing from 'watching a car rust' into character-driven stories over two decades.
