‘Tenzing’s Jennifer Peedom On Bringing The Everest Pioneer’s Story To Life — Deadline Screening Series

Jennifer Peedom’s film *Tenzing* tells the story of Himalayan climber Tenzing Norgay and his 1953 ascent of Everest with Edmund Hillary. Peedom aims to centre Norgay, whose role has often been overshadowed in accounts of the expedition, and to portray the climbers as equals whose achievement depended on mutual respect.

The film marks Peedom’s first narrative feature after years of documentary work in the Himalayas, including *Sherpa*. Climbing scenes were shot in New Zealand’s Southern Alps, with locations reached by helicopter, while a second unit filmed on Everest for backgrounds used in visual effects. Lead actor Genden Phuntsok spent time in the Himalayas to learn about Sherpa culture and dialect, and Tom Hiddleston met Hillary’s grandson.