AHF Ambassador and Director Jen Peedom at the Sydney screening
AHF hosts special screening events in Sydney & Melbourne
The Australian Himalayan Foundation was honoured to bring our community together this month in Sydney and Melbourne for special screening events of Tenzing, the new Apple Original Film directed and produced by AHF Ambassador Jennifer Peedom.
Thank you to everyone who joined us to experience this remarkable story on the big screen! If you missed it, Tenzing is out now in local cinemas and streaming on Apple TV.
About Tenzing
Based on incredible true events, Tenzing is a story of greatness that refuses to be diminished. The film chronicles the story of Tenzing Norgay, a gifted Himalayan climber who, alongside New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary, became the first to summit Mount Everest in 1953.
After six previous attempts, Tenzing risked everything for one final venture. He did so with humour, warmth and generosity toward his fellow climbers, while maintaining deep reverence and respect for the sacred Mother Goddess of his mountain, Chomolungma (aka Everest or Sagarmatha). For Tenzing, reaching the summit was the fulfilment of both a lifelong dream and a spiritual calling.
Tenzing is a story of love, high-altitude adventure and the triumph of the human spirit. It features a stellar cast including Genden Phuntsok as Tenzing Norgay, Tom Hiddleston as Edmund Hillary, Thinley Lhamo as Dawa Phuti, Willem Dafoe as John Hunt and Caitríona Balfe as Jill Henderson.
Tom Hiddleston as Edmund Hillary and Genden Phuntsok as Tenzing Norgay in Tenzing | Image: Apple TV Press
Congratulations Director Jen Peedom!
We are immensely proud that Tenzing is directed by one of our very own Australian Himalayan Foundation community members, Jen Peedom.
Renowned for her gripping, intimate portraits of human endurance in extreme environments, Jen’s celebrated filmography includes Solo, Mountain and the BAFTA-nominated Sherpa (the third highest-grossing Australian documentary of all time).
Jen shared, “In many ways ‘Tenzing’ is my love letter to the Himalayas.”
Through her work, Jen continues to shine a light on the people, cultures and landscapes of the Himalaya. By placing Tenzing Norgay firmly at the heart of the 1953 Everest summit, Tenzing offers a fresh, vital perspective and stands as a deeply moving cinematic achievement.
Filmmaker Jennifer Peedom with Genden Phuntsok behind the scenes of Tenzing | Image: Apple TV Press
The legacy lives on
The screenings served as a powerful reminder of how the legacy of the 1953 summit lives on through the descendants of these extraordinary men.
In Sydney, we were thrilled to be joined by Tenzing’s great-granddaughter, Dechen Tenzing (granddaughter of Pem Pem, who is featured in the film). Dechen captivated the audience with personal family stories, offering a rare glimpse into Tenzing’s life beyond the summit and sharing her family’s enduring connection to Chomolungma:
“For us, Everest was always like a member of the family, a constant in our lives.
My grandmother was Pem Pem, Tenzing’s eldest child from his first wife, Dawa Phuti. Pem Pem was just 14 when her father climbed Everest in 1953. Some of my fondest childhood memories are sitting in her little home in Darjeeling listening to stories about her 'Daddy', not only about that historic moment, but about the man behind it and the toll that such an extraordinary experience took on him.
I take immense pride and strength from knowing that, running through my veins, is the blood of a simple yak herder from Tibet who, through hard work, grit and determination, became a global icon. I hope this film not only honours Tenzing’s legacy, but brings greater awareness to just how incredible the Sherpa people are — their strength, resilience, culture and extraordinary role in history.”
Dechen Tenzing (Great-Granddaughter of Tenzing Norgay) and Director Jen Peedom at the Sydney screening of Tenzing
This spirit of connection echoed in Melbourne as well, where the audience had the privilege of hearing from AHF Ambassador George Hillary, grandson of Sir Edmund Hillary. Reflecting on the legendary bond between his grandfather and Tenzing Norgay, George shared Sir Ed’s vivid memory of standing at the summit in 1953, recalling Tenzing’s unmissable grin of joy—clearly visible despite a face encrusted in ice, goggles and an oxygen mask. He emphasised that their triumph was built on an inspiring "pyramid of effort," defined by deep trust and dedicated teamwork across the entire expedition crew.
AHF Ambassador George Hillary (Grandson of Sir Edmund Hillary) at the Melbourne screening of Tenzing
Long after their historic summit, both men continued to inspire as dedicated leaders in their communities. Tenzing helped establish and lead Darjeeling’s premier Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), instilling a deep reverence for the mountains and mountaineering for over seven decades. Meanwhile, Sir Ed created the Himalayan Trust NZ (now led by Ed’s other grandson, Alex), an endeavour he viewed as his life’s greatest accomplishment. This led to the founding of the Australian Himalayan Foundation, the American Himalayan Foundation (led by Tenzing’s son, Norbu), and the Himalayan Trust UK.
