Acclaimed Pakistani filmmaker Mohammed Ali Naqvi’s Sundance breakout hit recounts the extraordinary true story of a cable car rescue in the Pakistani Himalayas
Watch the trailer here
London-based documentary film company Dogwoof will distribute Hanging by a Wire in UK cinemas this summer. From award-winning Pakistani filmmaker, Mohammed Ali Naqvi (Netflix’s Turning Point, BBC’s The Accused: Damned or Devoted?), who has spent more than 20 years telling stories from South Asia, and produced by Naqvi and Bilal Sami, the Sundance-selected documentary recounts the remarkable true story of the 2023 cable car rescue in Pakistan’s remote Himalayan foothills that captured global attention and united an entire community in an extraordinary race against time. The gripping documentary premiered on opening day at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where it played to sold-out crowds and screened in competition for the Grand Jury Prize. Produced by award-winning Mindhouse, EverWonder Studio, Universal Pictures Content Group and 64th Street Media, the film will open in UK cinemas on Friday 28 August 2026.
Hanging by a Wire recounts the true story of a routine school commute that turned terrifying when a makeshift cable car’s wire snapped, leaving eight passengers, including six schoolboys, suspended hundreds of feet above a ravine in the remote foothills of the Pakistani Himalayas. With the clock ticking before the remaining cable was expected to fail, an unlikely band of local rescuers raced against time to bring them home safely. More than a survival story, Hanging by a Wire is a powerful portrait of courage, resilience and collective humanity, highlighting the strength of a remote Pakistani community that came together against impossible odds.
Mohammed Ali Naqvi, Director, Producer, and Co-writer, “This film is a tribute to the ordinary people who became extraordinary when it mattered most. To have Dogwoof bring Hanging by a Wire to UK cinemas means audiences will experience it the way we intended—together, in the dark, holding their breath as a real-life disaster thriller unfolds through the voices and footage of the people who lived it.“
Oli Harbottle, Chief Content Officer for Dogwoof, “We are delighted to bring Hanging by a Wire to UK audiences this summer. We look forward to introducing this powerful human story of survival and remarkable heroism to audiences all across the UK.”
Arron Fellows, Creative Director and Co-founder Mindhouse, “We’re incredibly excited to partner with Dogwoof on what will be Mindhouse’s first theatrical release. It’s been brilliant to collaborate with 64th Street Media on Hanging By A Wire – a documentary with the scale and drama that truly deserves the big screen treatment. We look forward to developing more projects that have cinematic potential.“
The North American theatrical rights for Hanging By A Wire have been acquired by AB2 Media Group and its theatrical releasing division Abramorama. The film will premiere at the Quad Cinema in New York City on 28th August and will expand to theaters across North America ahead of its streaming debut in the 4th Quarter of 2026.
