Uta - the Climb for Kosovo

In 2017, 34 year-old Uta Ibrahimi became the first person from Kosovo to attempt Everest. Born and raised in eastern Kosovo, her childhood was interrupted by a fierce ethnic war that ripped the heart out of the Balkan nation, and ultimately drove her to become a mountain climber. Battling against Kosovo's entrenched gender stereotypes and misogyny within the climbing community, Uta climbed the highest peaks in Kosovo, and then Europe. But her dream was always 'to be the first to put the Kosovo flag on top of the world,' and to inspire a new post-war generation in Kosovo to move on from the war and builld a better country. This film looks back on Uta’s inspirational life, charting her journey from young woman growing up in a conflict country, to the literal top of the world. On the surface, this is a film about mountain climbing; human versus the most unforgiving terrain on the planet, but underneath it is a film about recognition, about empowerment and about having the courage and the determination to step forward and keep going - for Uta and for Kosovo. Uta mirrors her homeland, its history, its sense of place in the world and its battle for recognition. Uta and Kosovo, in that respect, are one and the same.

Sustainability Notes:

The subject of the film, Uta Ibrahimi, is an ambassador for World Clean Up Day, where she educates people from all walks of life about the importance of taking care of the outdoors, and our planet - https://m.facebook.com/watch/?v=335102807088496&_rdr. In terms of the filming practice, we aimed to keep a very low footprint. We were a two-person crew trekking in the mountains in Kosovo taking care not to leave any trace of our presence in the mountains. While the film itself focuses more on female empowerement rather sustainability, the message is clear - mountains, nature and the outdoors are to be treated with respect are for the enjoyment of all.