Jennifer Peedom’s drama Tenzing, starring Tom Hiddleston and
Willem Dafoe, is set to open the 22nd edition of the Zurich Film Festival on
September 24, according to the organisers.

“Perfectly aligned with this year’s ZFF theme, ‘dream big’, the epic story of the first ascent of Mount Everest will have its European Premiere on September 24, kicking off #ZFF2026 with a spectacular Opening Night,” reads a caption by the official social media post by Zurich Film Festival.

Hiddleston, Dafoe and Peedom will attend the green carpet in Zurich for
the European premiere of the film which is produced by Apple Original Films.
The film chronicles the first successful ascent of Mount Everest, reported
Variety.

“At its heart, Tenzing is about a man who dared to imagine a life beyond
the limits the world had placed on him, and the courage, sacrifice and belief
it took to reach the highest point on earth,” said Peedom.

“This year’s Zurich Film Festival motto is ‘dream big.’ Our breathtaking
opening film Tenzing fits perfectly, because it shows how you can grow beyond
yourself when you have a big dream,” Zurich Film Festival CEO Christian Jungen
said.

He also added that the film combines ‘powerful emotion and mountain
scenery of sublime beauty’ while also highlighting the importance of respecting
the local Sherpa community and the nature that is an integral part of Sherpa
life.

Tenzing is based on the original story of the Himalayan climber Tenzing
Norgay, played by Genden Phuntsok, and his partner Edmund Hillary, a New
Zealand mountaineer, who is portrayed by Hiddleston. The two went on to become
the pioneer climbers to summit Mount Everest.

The film unfolds as Tenzing seeks recognition not merely as an assisting
Sherpa to Western climbers, but as a mountaineer in his own right. He finds
alliance in expedition secretary Jill Henderson, portrayed by Caitríona Balfe,
with encouragement from his wife Dawa, who is played by Thinley Lhamo.

They successfully persuade expedition leader Colonel John Hunt, played
by Dafoe, that Tenzing deserves a place on the British climbing team.

Along with the struggle against the mountain’s extreme conditions, the
story is pregnant with strains of culture, class and ambition, before Tenzing
and Hillary are able to develop a mutual bond based on respect and trust.

Tenzing will be released in select theatres on October 9 and will have
its premiere on Apple TV on October 16.