Reflections on the premiere and an unforgettable evening
April 27th is a date I won’t forget anytime soon. At the Trento Film Festival, the world premiere of Eternal Solo took place — my first documentary film. A personal, vertical, and at times silent journey into the kind of alpinism I hold dear: solitary, authentic, essential.
Bringing this film to the audience of the Trento Film Festival — one of the most important international events dedicated to the mountains — was already a huge milestone. But what happened after the screening went beyond anything I had imagined: Eternal Solo received the Audience Award for Best Mountaineering Film.
Receiving a prize voted directly by the people who sat in the theater means more to me than I can say. It tells me the story, the effort, the fears, and the moments of joy I tried to share truly resonated. That this vertical solitude was understood, felt — maybe even shared.
The evening of the premiere was a whirlwind of emotions. Watching those images on the big screen — the steps on the wall, the silence, the inner doubts — together with hundreds of people was intense, almost surreal.
Many audience members, their eyes still wet with emotion, came up to me after the screening to congratulate me, to hug me, to share what they had just experienced. That kind of response will stay with me forever.
And then came the applause. Long. Warm. Genuine.
This award belongs to all of you — those who love the mountains with sincerity. Who believe that alpinism is not just about conquering, but about listening. A heartfelt thanks goes to the entire team who made this project possible — from the director to the producers, and everyone who walked a piece of this path with me.
Eternal Solo was born from a personal need. But now, it has become something greater. Thank you for welcoming it with open hearts.
See you on the wall — or maybe in the theater.
Stefano
