Benjamin Védrines Movies, TV Shows, and Filmography
Benjamin Védrines
Acting
Biography
Benjamin Védrines, born on June 25, 1992, in Die, Drôme, is one of the fastest French mountaineers, ski mountaineers, climbers, and paragliders of his generation. He is also a high-mountain guide, having graduated from the ENSA (National School of Skiing and Mountaineering) in 2016. As a teenager, he discovered ski touring around the age of 14, then mountaineering and steep skiing, which led him to complete his first major climb in 2008: the Escarra route on the north summit of the Olan, at 3,440 meters. In 2012, for the 50th anniversary of the route, he climbed the direct north face of La Meije, a TD+ graded route, marking a significant milestone in his technical development. The following year, he established and soloed down the Bonnaski line on the northeast face of Coolidge Peak, a steep slope rated 5.3+. Subsequently, Védrines undertook numerous alpine-style ascents and first ascents, notably at Chamlang in Nepal, where in 2019 and 2021 he participated in new technical lines on the north and northeast faces alongside Nicolas Jean and then Charles Dubouloz, on a 1,600-meter wall combining ice, mixed terrain, and very sustained sections. In the Alps, he notably completed the first ski descent of the northwest face of Ailefroide, a line of approximately 1,200 meters rated 5.5, illustrating his versatility between extreme skiing and fast mountaineering. In the world of record-breaking, Benjamin Védrines gained international recognition in 2022 thanks to his lightning-fast ascent of Broad Peak (8,051 m) in Pakistan, completed in 7 hours and 28 minutes without supplemental oxygen, considered the fastest ever recorded on a peak over 8,000 m. On the same day, he took off by paraglider directly from the summit to reach base camp, marking the first flight of its kind on this eight-thousander. In July 2024, he set a record for climbing K2 in 10 hours, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds, again without supplemental oxygen, and achieved the first paragliding descent from the summit to base camp, a feat that cemented his status as a specialist in rapid high-altitude ascents. Beyond the Himalayas, he also broke records in the Alps, notably the Chamonix–Zermatt ski record of 14 hours and 54 minutes in April 2023, and a round trip time of 4 hours, 54 minutes, and 41 seconds on Mont Blanc, a record across all disciplines, achieved on skis. His 2023 was a particularly remarkable year, marked by, among other things, a major ski traverse of the Queyras region, covering over 12,000 meters of elevation gain and 138 kilometers in two days, and the first ascent of a major couloir on the Barre des Écrins, De l’Or en Barre, rated ED+, with Nicolas Jean and Julien Cruvelier de Luze. He also participated in several films and documentaries about his exploits, such as Edge of Reason about the Broad Peak record, La Madier (1 hour and 24 minutes around the Aiguille Dibona) solo, and Raide d’Écrins and Queyras Express. In 2025, he continued at the same pace with new technical challenges, such as the first ascent of Anidesh Chuli with Nicolas Jean and the self-belayed solo repeat of the Base route (ED4, 7a, M8+) over several days. His achievements earned him the 2024 Alpinism Award at the inaugural Mountain Trophies, recognizing a career already rich in first ascents, daring new routes, and speed records on the world's greatest mountains.
Filmography Movies
Acting
Edge of Reason
Benjamin Védrines and Nicolas Jean are tackling their first 8000-meter summit, Broad Peak in Pakistan. Their goal is to climb without the usual altitude camps, and to achieve the ascent from base camp to summit in one day, in “a single push”. The icing on the cake for Benjamin would be to break the speed record for climbing an 8000 meters peak, and to take off from the summit with his paraglider!
À l’Ombre du Chamlang
The north face of Chamlang, nearly 2,000 meters high and culminating at 7,200 meters, is one of the last great unclimbed faces in the Himalayas. Benjamin Védrines, who had scouted the face during a previous ascent of Chamlang in 2019 with Nicolas Jean via the northeast couloir, decided to tackle it with Charles Dubouloz, a very strong mountaineer but a novice at high altitude. Snow slides, suspended bivouacs, pitches of mixed climbing and vertical ice… The gamble paid off for the Frenchmen, who opened a new route, "À l'ombre du mensonge" (1,600m, 5+, m5+, 90°), after four intense days on the north face—a magnificent first ascent of a coveted summit, as a duo, in alpine style.
K2 Chasing Shadows
K2 Chasing Shadows chronicles Benjamin Védrines' record-breaking 2024 ascent of K2 (8,611m) in 10 hours, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds, without supplemental oxygen: a story that unfolds as much in the mind as on the mountain. In human exploration, each boundary pushed awakens a new thirst. Each feat paves the way for a deeper quest. It is this tension between extreme performance and inner aspiration that drives K2 Chasing Shadows. For Benjamin Védrines, it is a journey of humility, resilience, and a search for meaning amidst the raw beauty of the Pakistani Karakoram. The film exposes the physical demands of a formidable summit, while also exploring fear, loss, and the perilous nature of dreams that demand total commitment. Between unforeseen obstacles, forced retreats and new attempts, Védrines faces the most trying and exhilarating aspects of mountaineering, constantly questioning where true accomplishment lies.
From Shade to Light
Dive into the mind of French mountaineer Charles Dubouloz as he achieves Rolling Stones (5.10 A3, or M8, 1100m) a rarely repeated route on the fabled north face of the Grandes Jorasses above Chamonix, France. He spent six days with five bivouacs on the wall, pressing on through strong winds and low temperatures of -30°C (-22°F), sustaining some frostbites to achieve one of the most acclaimed winter solo ascent in the Alps. « I'm scared, I quiver, I'm cold...but I have this intense drive to set foot on the summit. »
Chamlang
In October 2019, Benjamin Védrines and Nicolas Jean climbed the northeast couloir (1,500 m, M3/M4, 65°) of Chamlang (7,321 m, Nepal) to an altitude of 7,240 meters, using alpine style with a bivouac. The young French team had initially aimed for the north pillar of this mountain, a favorite among top climbers. Although they had to abandon their ascent of the northeast couloir, their climb was selected for the Piolets d'Or "big list."
Raide d'Écrins
Benjamin Védrines and Nicolas Jean are continuing their ski touring projects. After exploring Nicolas Jean's stomping grounds – the Ubaye Valley – the two guides found themselves this time in Benjamin's backyard: the Écrins massif. From May 27th to 29th, they completed a rapid traverse of the massif from south to north, skiing down 10 steep slopes along the way. "An intense immersion, full of challenges, doubts, joys, and mysteries!" recounts Benjamin. This – yet another – traverse of the massif took them from the Gioberney chalet-hotel (Valgaudemar) to the Pied du Col (Haute-Romanche), traversing steep slopes over three days, "crossing some of the wildest landscapes in the Southern Alps." Three days during which they will have covered 11,000 meters of elevation gain and descended no less than 10 slopes rated in the 5, from the north face of the Sirac (5.4) to the north couloir of the Col Claire (5.1+).
Production
K2 Chasing Shadows
K2 Chasing Shadows chronicles Benjamin Védrines' record-breaking 2024 ascent of K2 (8,611m) in 10 hours, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds, without supplemental oxygen: a story that unfolds as much in the mind as on the mountain. In human exploration, each boundary pushed awakens a new thirst. Each feat paves the way for a deeper quest. It is this tension between extreme performance and inner aspiration that drives K2 Chasing Shadows. For Benjamin Védrines, it is a journey of humility, resilience, and a search for meaning amidst the raw beauty of the Pakistani Karakoram. The film exposes the physical demands of a formidable summit, while also exploring fear, loss, and the perilous nature of dreams that demand total commitment. Between unforeseen obstacles, forced retreats and new attempts, Védrines faces the most trying and exhilarating aspects of mountaineering, constantly questioning where true accomplishment lies.
À l’Ombre du Chamlang
The north face of Chamlang, nearly 2,000 meters high and culminating at 7,200 meters, is one of the last great unclimbed faces in the Himalayas. Benjamin Védrines, who had scouted the face during a previous ascent of Chamlang in 2019 with Nicolas Jean via the northeast couloir, decided to tackle it with Charles Dubouloz, a very strong mountaineer but a novice at high altitude. Snow slides, suspended bivouacs, pitches of mixed climbing and vertical ice… The gamble paid off for the Frenchmen, who opened a new route, "À l'ombre du mensonge" (1,600m, 5+, m5+, 90°), after four intense days on the north face—a magnificent first ascent of a coveted summit, as a duo, in alpine style.
Chamlang
In October 2019, Benjamin Védrines and Nicolas Jean climbed the northeast couloir (1,500 m, M3/M4, 65°) of Chamlang (7,321 m, Nepal) to an altitude of 7,240 meters, using alpine style with a bivouac. The young French team had initially aimed for the north pillar of this mountain, a favorite among top climbers. Although they had to abandon their ascent of the northeast couloir, their climb was selected for the Piolets d'Or "big list."
Chamlang
In October 2019, Benjamin Védrines and Nicolas Jean climbed the northeast couloir (1,500 m, M3/M4, 65°) of Chamlang (7,321 m, Nepal) to an altitude of 7,240 meters, using alpine style with a bivouac. The young French team had initially aimed for the north pillar of this mountain, a favorite among top climbers. Although they had to abandon their ascent of the northeast couloir, their climb was selected for the Piolets d'Or "big list."
Raide d'Écrins
Benjamin Védrines and Nicolas Jean are continuing their ski touring projects. After exploring Nicolas Jean's stomping grounds – the Ubaye Valley – the two guides found themselves this time in Benjamin's backyard: the Écrins massif. From May 27th to 29th, they completed a rapid traverse of the massif from south to north, skiing down 10 steep slopes along the way. "An intense immersion, full of challenges, doubts, joys, and mysteries!" recounts Benjamin. This – yet another – traverse of the massif took them from the Gioberney chalet-hotel (Valgaudemar) to the Pied du Col (Haute-Romanche), traversing steep slopes over three days, "crossing some of the wildest landscapes in the Southern Alps." Three days during which they will have covered 11,000 meters of elevation gain and descended no less than 10 slopes rated in the 5, from the north face of the Sirac (5.4) to the north couloir of the Col Claire (5.1+).
Raide d'Écrins
Benjamin Védrines and Nicolas Jean are continuing their ski touring projects. After exploring Nicolas Jean's stomping grounds – the Ubaye Valley – the two guides found themselves this time in Benjamin's backyard: the Écrins massif. From May 27th to 29th, they completed a rapid traverse of the massif from south to north, skiing down 10 steep slopes along the way. "An intense immersion, full of challenges, doubts, joys, and mysteries!" recounts Benjamin. This – yet another – traverse of the massif took them from the Gioberney chalet-hotel (Valgaudemar) to the Pied du Col (Haute-Romanche), traversing steep slopes over three days, "crossing some of the wildest landscapes in the Southern Alps." Three days during which they will have covered 11,000 meters of elevation gain and descended no less than 10 slopes rated in the 5, from the north face of the Sirac (5.4) to the north couloir of the Col Claire (5.1+).
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