THE
SKY
At 25,500 feet, Mt. Noshaq peers down on a turbulent and fractured Afghanistan.
No Afghan woman had ever attempted its summit—until a small group of young climbers set their sights on the peak, determined to rise above not only the mountain’s perilous ridges but also the weight of a society that told them they could not.
Finding strength in sisterhood, they test the limits of endurance and conviction, discovering that the most daunting obstacles are not always of stone and ice, but of expectation, power, and belief.
mt. noshaq
ELEVATION: 24,580 FT (7,492 M)
THE HIGHEST PEAK IN AFGHANISTAN.
NEVER CLIMBED BY AN AFGHAN WOMAN, UNTIL NOW.
THE STORY
TO THE SKY is a character-driven documentary that follows a group of Afghan women as they train, climb, and confront both the physical extremes of Noshaq and the psychological confines of their own society.
From their homes in Kabul to the vastness of the Hindu Kush, the film captures moments of humor, frustration, resilience, and doubt—painting an unexpected portrait of Afghanistan through the eyes of those who have long been silenced.
As their journey unfolds, a deeper story emerges: one of ideals colliding with reality. Supported by a well-meaning Western NGO that seeks to empower them through sport, the women begin to question where encouragement ends and influence begins. Their expedition becomes a mirror for a larger national story—the story of a country lifted up by foreign ideals, only to be left reckoning with the void those ideals leave behind.
Part adventure film and part coming-of-age story, TO THE SKY explores what it means to strive for freedom when the very definition of freedom has been shaped by others.
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DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
TO THE SKY represents a shift from my previous photojournalistic work in conflict zones like Iraq and Syria, allowing me to explore a more human story within a complex socio-political context – pushing me to navigate cultural nuances like never before. As a filmmaker, I strive to amplify marginalized voices, focusing on resilience and empowerment.
The film showcases Afghanistan's first female mountaineers' climb of Mount Noshaq, challenging the adventure genre's typical focus on white, western males. This film highlights their physical and emotional struggles, proving that women from male-dominated, unstable regions can break barriers and make history.
For me, success is about the impact on audiences and the communities represented. I hope TO THE SKY sparks discussions on gender equality, resilience, and collective action, inspiring others to pursue their dreams against all odds.
As we look to secure funding and navigate the often challenging independent documentary space, my commitment to this story remains unwavering. TO THE SKY is not just a film; it’s a celebration of the human spirit and a step toward a more inclusive world where every story, especially those of Afghan women, is valued.
– ERIN TRIEB
ARTISTIC APPROACH
TO THE SKY merges the emotional intimacy of a social documentary with the cinematic grandeur of a mountain expedition—using the act of climbing as a living metaphor for Afghan women’s pursuit of agency and self-determination.
Filmed in vérité style and told in the women’s own voices—without narration—the story unfolds through lived experience rather than commentary. This approach reveals the nuances of their strength: the quiet moments of doubt, laughter, and connection that exist beyond the headlines.
The visual language contrasts the enormity of the mountains with the intimacy of daily life, creating a layered portrait of Afghanistan that is at once fragile and fierce.
While the climb forms the film’s propulsive spine, TO THE SKY also interrogates the cost of external “empowerment.” It asks: when well-intentioned outsiders—be they soldiers or humanitarians—impose their vision of freedom, what happens when that support is withdrawn? Through the microcosm of one expedition, the film reflects on the enduring legacy of the West’s presence in Afghanistan: how inspiration can become dependency, and how even the purest intentions can leave a complicated aftermath.
Characters
HANIFA YOUSSEFI
The lead character is 23-year-old Hanifa Youssefi: an illiterate young woman from an impoverished, conservative Hazara family. When Hanifa was 14, her family forced her to marry a man twice her age in Pakistan. Her husband was abusive and treated her like his personal slave. Hanifa escaped her marriage and returned to her family in Kabul, an act that is as bold as it is dangerous in Afghan society, often punishable by an “honor killing” carried out by male relatives.
After joining Ascend, an American non-profit mountaineering organization, who pays her a small wage for leading her teammates in physical training, she is now the sole wage-earner for her family, providing for both her ailing parents. She still faces opposition for becoming a mountaineer from male relatives and her brother. Yet, against these odds in August 2018 she summited the highest peak in Afghanistan, Mt. Noshaq, at 24,580 feet.
SHOGUFA BAYAT
The youngest character in the film, Shogufa Bayat, 18, is a highly intelligent, spirited young woman who loves to crack jokes. She developed feminist ideals at a young age despite being surrounded by an Afghan culture that favors males.
Relatives and neighbors disparaged her wishes to ride a bicycle or play outside, as Afghan girls are instructed to stay inside to cook and clean. But with the support of her father, she sought out a broader experience with a better education, and eventually mountain climbing. In the mountains, she found others who showed her that you don’t need to be male to be strong and experience life. Shogufa faced big disappointment on the Mt. Noshaq expedition when it was decided that she could not climb, due to a shortage of guides.
the team
ERIN TRIEB | DIRECTOR
For nearly two decades, Erin has worked as a photojournalist and documentary photographer in conflict zones such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and Ukraine. Her work, addresses social issues like cultural identity, feminism, and PTSD, and has been featured in top publications including The New York Times, National Geographic, and TIME Magazine among others. She has won awards from World Press Photo and Pictures of the Year International. In 2017 she was named a “female icon” of adventure by Outside Magazine. After a decade reporting in Afghanistan, Erin spent a year living in Kabul in 2018 filming TO THE SKY.
MEREDITH HOGAN | PRODUCER
Meredith Hogan is an award-winning producer specializing in character-driven narratives in film and video. After running special multimedia projects for nbcnews.com for more than a decade, Meredith now works with a variety of corporate and nonprofit clients, including the Gates Foundation, Arc’teryx, Amazon, Cascade Designs, Weyerhaeuser, Boys and Girls Club, and Alaska Airlines among others. TO THE SKY combines her passion for the outdoors, her expertise in social justice issues along with her fascination with inspiring stories of overcoming adversity.
Margaret Metzger | EDITOR
Margaret is a documentary editor with over a decade’s worth of experience working in the documentary field. Meg has edited more than a dozen profiles for the series MAKERS: THE WOMEN WHO MAKE AMERICA, and was a staff editor for the Webby-winning BLACK HISTORY IN TWO MINUTES, hosted by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. She edited the two-part PBS feature, DANTE: INFERNO TO PARADISE, directed by Ric Burns. She was a participant in the Karen Schmeer Foundation’s Diversity in the Edit Room program in 2018-2019, and in January 2020, she was the Artist-in-Residence at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, NY.
MICHAEL LEVINE | EDITOR
Michael Levine is an award-winning, veteran documentary film editor. He is most well-known for his work on Sebastian Junger & Tim Hetherington's Oscar nominated, RESTREPO. For this film, he was honored with an Emmy in “Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft: Editing.” He also edited Bennett Miller's THE CRUISE, and Ken & Sarah Burns' THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE. THE AUTOMAT featuring featured Mel Brooks, and Liz Garbus' BOBBY FISCHER AGAINST THE WORLD are also part of his exemplary editing work.
BAKTASH AHADI | EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Baktash Ahadi is an Emmy Award winning filmmaker whose work explores the human condition through stories of hope, resilience, and connection—especially in the face of conflict, loss, and transformation. Born in Afghanistan and raised in the U.S., Baktash brings a unique perspective to his films, many of which center on Afghanistan and its people. From his time as a military interpreter with the U.S. Marines to directing films about Afghan women, refugees, and veterans, his work offers rare insight into a region too often misunderstood. His award-winning films have been featured at Tribeca, SXSW, Telluride, TIFF, and DOC NYC, earning multiple Jury and Audience Awards, Peabody Awards, and Emmys. Two of his films have also been shortlisted for the Oscars.
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