Home > News

Free Solo Wins Seven Emmys, Including Outstanding Directing

Free Solo took home every award it was nominated for at the 2019 Emmys

Free Solo, which already has an Oscar for best documentary to its name, took home all seven Emmys it was nominated for. The film, which featured Alex Honnold’s free-solo of Freerider5.13a on El Capitan was directed by Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi. The film also won best documentary at the BAFTA awards.

It won outstanding directing for a documentary/nonfiction program, outstanding cinematography, sound editing, sound mixing, picture editing, music composition and best achievement in interactive media.

“I think it always comes back to Alex, the diligence and discipline and teaching himself over the years,” said Vasarhelyi after receiving the awards. “I think in terms of the Creative Arts Emmys, Alex brought so much craft to what he did, that all of us, every member of our team got a nomination.”

View this post on Instagram

It was a good night for team @freesolofilm. A bit surreal. Just wanted to express my gratitude to our friends, family and everyone that has supported the film and taken the time to see it. The Emmy’s marked the end of what has been a run of a lifetime. I don’t take a moment of it for granted. But as always, it was the process of making the film and working with all the incredible people that poured their hearts into it that remains the true reward. Chai and I are incredibly grateful to our extraordinary team. Free Solo went 7 for 7 last night. Seeing our friends and closest collaborators recognized for the excellence they brought was a fitting ending to an incredible journey. ?? Thank you @alexhonnold @sannimccandless @courteney_monroe @natgeo and @natgeodocs for trusting us throughout. Outstanding Achievement in Editing (non-fiction): Bob Eisenhardt Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography (non-fiction): Jimmy Chin Clair Popkin (@clairpopkin) Mikey Schaefer (@mikeylikesrocks) Outstanding Achievement Directing (documentary): Chai Vasarhelyi (@chaivasarhelyi ) Jimmy Chin Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing (non-fiction): Deborah Wallach Filipe Messeder Jim Schultz Roland Vajs Nuno Bento Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing (non-fiction): Tom Fleischmann Ric Schnupp Tyson Lozensky Jim Hurst (@jimhurst) Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition (documentary): Marco Beltrami Brandon Roberts Outstanding Creative Achievement In Interactive Media: Chai Vasarhelyi Jimmy Chin Evan Hayes (@peconic21) Framestore

A post shared by Jimmy Chin (@jimmychin) on

Check out the latest buyer's guide:

The Best Climbing Gear According to Our Editors – April

Every month we're bringing you our favourite gear so you can complete your climbing kit with the latest and best stuff out there