Discovery Network is all set to broadcast the award winning documentary film ‘Sherpa’ in over 200 countries this month. The film directed by Australian filmmaker Jennifer Peedom is the winner of the Grierson Award at the 2015 BFI London Festival. It was also nominated at some major award ceremonies and international film festivals such as BAFTA Awards, Australian Film Institute, Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards, London Film Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival, Palm Springs International Film Festival, Philadelphia Film Festival and Sydney Film Festival. The 96-minute film has a rating of 97% on film review website Rotten Tomatoes, 8.2/10 stars on IMDB and 93% on Metacritic.

In 2013 news channels around the world reported an ugly brawl at 21,000 feet as European climbers fled a mob of angry Sherpas. It was a whole lot of different story in 1953 when Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norgay had reached the summit in a spirit of co-operation and brave optimism. But now climbers and Sherpas were trading insults and even blows. What had happened to the happy, smiling Sherpas and their dedication in getting foreigners to the top of the mountain they hold so sacred?

Determined to explore what was going on, director Jennifer Peedom and high-altitude filmmaker Renan Ozturk set out to make a film of the 2014 Everest climbing season, from the Sherpas’ point of view. Instead, they captured a tragedy that would change Everest forever. At 6.45AM on April 18th, 2014, a fourteen-million ton block of ice crashed down onto the climbing route through the Khumbu Icefall, killing 16 Sherpas. It was the worst tragedy in the history of Everest. The disaster provoked a drastic reappraisal about the role of the Sherpas in the Everest industry.

The film will be aired in Nepal and India on Monday, April 18 at 9:15 PM (NST)/9:00 PM (IST). It is scheduled for its broadcast in United States on Saturday, April 23rd at 9/8c. Now, this is a film you just can’t afford to miss. Watch the trailer here.