David Farnor | On 29, Sep 2016

Netflix has released the trailer for its new original documentary, Sky Ladder: The Art of Cai Guo-Qiang.

Directed by Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland), the film was snapped up by the streaming site at Sundance this year.

It follows its subject’s ambitious namesake – a 1,650-foot ladder of fire climbing into the skies above the hometown of artist Cai. The result promises an in-depth portrait of a contemporary creative icon – and some stunning images to boot.

The film has its European Premiere at the London Film Festival on Friday 7th October, before being released on Netflix on Friday 14th October.

 

Netflix lines up Sundance documentary Sky Ladder

2nd March 2016

Remember when Netflix and Amazon were acquiring all those films at Sundance back in January? Well, Netflix is still going.

According to Variety, the streaming giant is in final talks to acquire Kevin Macdonald’s Sky Ladder, a documentary on Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang.

The film follow’s Cai’s career and life story through his signature works, with a focus on his most ambitious project to date: the titular fireworks display in the shape of a ladder over his hometown.

The movie premiered in Sundance’s World Documentary category, putting it right in Netflix’s sweet spot: the streaming giant has thrown its weight into the documentary ring, backing acclaimed festival hitters consistently in recent years, picking up multiple Oscar and BAFTA nominations along the way.

The deal for Sky Ladder is Netflix’s eighth acquisition from this year’s Sundance festival, with previous deals including Iranian horror Under the Shadow, Elliot Page drama Tallulah, Paul Rudd drama The Fundamentals of Caring, Indian sex comedy Brahman Naman, Molly Shannon comedy-drama Other People and the documentaries Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You and Audrie and Daisy.

Photo: Sundance

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