Making its world premiere at SXSW, The Ascent tells the extraordinary true story of Mandy Horvath, a bilateral amputee who sets out to crawl to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro using only her hands. After losing both of her legs at 21 under mysterious circumstances, Mandy must confront the trauma of her past while pushing her body and spirit to the absolute limit.
In this conversation, Mandy Horvath joins the filmmakers to discuss the journey behind the film and the deeper themes it explores: resilience, rebuilding trust, and redefining what human determination looks like. Together, they will reflect on how stories of perseverance can challenge assumptions about disability, expand our understanding of strength, and inspire audiences to rethink the limits we place on ourselves.
Moderator:
- Cassie Bradly, Creative Director , The Impact Lounge
Speakers:
- Edward Drake, Director/Producer, Good Complex
- Scott Veltri, Director/Producer, Tower Way
- Mandy Horvath, Writer, Speaker, Actress, & Mountaineer
- Moderator tbc