Minnesota Native Wins Oscar For 'Free Solo' Documentary

LOS ANGELES (AP/WCCO) — "Free Solo" climbed to the top of the Oscars, winning best documentary feature.

The film about rock climber Alex Honnold's quest to ascend the famed El Capitan rock formation at Yosemite National Park without ropes in June 2017 was honored on Sunday night.

Husband-and-wife directors Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi were challenged by the conditions: filming Honnold without affecting his climb of 3,000 feet of sheer granite and getting sound because he was often too far from the camera.

"Hanging off the wall I couldn't see Alex alone. I just had to trust that he was being perfect," Chin said backstage. "We also had to carry the weight of the entire production of being perfect. If we had made any mistakes it could have been catastrophic."

Onstage, Chai Vasarhelyi thanked National Geographic, which made the film, "for believing in us and for hiring women and people of color because we only help make the films better."

"This film is for everyone who believes in the impossible," she said. "It was the work of an army."

In the wings, Chin, who is from Mankato, Minnesota, was speechless as actor Jason Momoa gave him an Aquaman-worthy whoop and bear hug, while Chai Vasarhelyi said "Oh my god, I think I have to cry now."

Chin and Chai Vasarhelyi still appeared in awe backstage.

"It's completely surreal," Chin said. "We feel like interlopers."

Producer Evan Hayes said Honnold lives a rugged existence, so he was thoroughly enjoying his brush with Hollywood.

"He's embedded, thrilled," Hayes said. "He deserves so much of the credit for this."

The film has grossed over $19 million worldwide.

(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)