The Kingdom of Bhutan is a small country that values harmony with nature and was the first in the world to achieve carbon negativity. In October 2024, it hosted a grueling very-high-altitude ultra-marathon in the Himalayas. The race was aimed at drawing the world's attention to the crisis known as global boiling. Melting Himalayan glaciers are raising water levels in glacial lakes and, more than ever before, magnifying the risk of outburst floods that can destroy the way of life in Bhutan. NHK and the Bhutan Broadcasting Service teamed up to capture the entire race on film for the first time. Runners battling hypoxia as they covered the harsh terrain used compact cameras to record what they were seeing and feeling. What they witnessed were the spectacular, gradually disappearing scenery and the crisis looming over Bhutan. The runners, who had come from around the world, underwent personal transformations through life-changing realizations while deepening their bonds beyond borders.
Lauréats 2026
Run Against Time: The Snowman Race in Bhutan
Compétition :
Compétition DOCU
Catégorie : Habitats, territoires et cadre de vie
Pays : Japan
Catégorie : Habitats, territoires et cadre de vie
Pays : Japan
Commanditaire : Hiroyuki Shirakawa
Producteur : Hiroyuki Shirakawa
Réalisateur : Shiro Kagawa
Durée : 00:49:05
Producteur : Hiroyuki Shirakawa
Réalisateur : Shiro Kagawa
Durée : 00:49:05
Résumé
The Kingdom of Bhutan is a small country that values harmony with nature and was the first in the world to achieve carbon negativity. In October 2024, it hosted a grueling very-high-altitude ultra-marathon in the Himalayas. The race was aimed at drawing the world's attention to the crisis known as global boiling. Melting Himalayan glaciers are raising water levels in glacial lakes and, more than ever before, magnifying the risk of outburst floods that can destroy the way of life in Bhutan. NHK and the Bhutan Broadcasting Service teamed up to capture the entire race on film for the first time. Runners battling hypoxia as they covered the harsh terrain used compact cameras to record what they were seeing and feeling. What they witnessed were the spectacular, gradually disappearing scenery and the crisis looming over Bhutan. The runners, who had come from around the world, underwent personal transformations through life-changing realizations while deepening their bonds beyond borders.Objectif
Target group is all ages and backgrounds. Focusing on an ambitious mountain foot race held to call for urgent action against “global boiling”, this documentary highlights the little-known fact that global warming is destroying the way of life in Bhutan. The powerful, unedited words of the runners, who immersed themselves in the harsh Himalayan wilderness and witnessed the crisis looming over, raise awareness and inspire behavioral change.