Soundscape features Erik Weihenmayer, a global adventure athlete and author who is fully blind, as he ascends a massive alpine rock face deep in the Sierra Nevada. Using expert camera work and emotive, novel animation to bring to life a concept by adaptive climbing pioneer Timmy O’Neill, the film is a surprising and soulful adventure.
At the root of empathy is being able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, but sometimes it can be hard to imagine a lived experience that is vastly different from your own. Soundscape masterfully uses graphics, narration and sound to show the audience the reality of climbing outdoors with a visual impairment. The jury felt they were right there in the moment with Erik, finding each handhold and celebrating on the summit.
– Megan Cotterell, VIMFF 2024 Jury
