Boulder Filmmaker Reflects on Risks of Climbing Documentaries

Peter Mortimer discusses his latest project, 'The Dark Wizard,' and the responsibility of capturing extreme athletes on film.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 6:37pm

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An abstract close-up image featuring shattered glass and crumpled climbing gear, conveying the high-stakes and risky nature of extreme sports through dramatic lighting and textured materials.The visceral intensity of extreme sports documentaries like 'The Dark Wizard' captures the thrill and peril that drives daring athletes to push the limits of human ability.Boulder Today

Ahead of the Boulder International Film Festival, we spoke with director Peter Mortimer, a Boulder-based climber and Emmy-winning filmmaker, about his latest project, 'The Dark Wizard,' which follows the life and tragic death of climber and BASE jumper Dean Potter. Mortimer discusses the challenges of telling these high-stakes stories, the responsibility of filming extreme acts, and how his upbringing in Colorado led to a career in adventure filmmaking.

Why it matters

Mortimer's films don't shy away from the risks and consequences of extreme sports, exploring the complex motivations and mental health struggles of the athletes he profiles. 'The Dark Wizard' continues this thread, delving into Dean Potter's 'darkness and complex relationship with fear' as a 'performance artist' pushing the boundaries of climbing and BASE jumping.

The details

Mortimer grew up in Boulder, learning to climb in Eldorado Canyon and studying geology at Colorado College before pursuing filmmaking. His latest project, 'The Dark Wizard,' is a four-episode HBO series that explores the life and death of climber and BASE jumper Dean Potter. Mortimer had a personal relationship with Potter and had been working on a project with him when he died in 2015. The series delves into Potter's motivations, struggles with mental health, and complex relationships, providing a 'grounding, real, and human' perspective on the extreme athlete lifestyle.

  • Mortimer's latest project, 'The Dark Wizard,' will premiere on HBO starting April 14, 2026.
  • The Boulder International Film Festival, where Mortimer will be in attendance for a Q&A, is scheduled for April 9-12, 2026.

The players

Peter Mortimer

A Boulder-based climber and Emmy-winning filmmaker who has made several acclaimed climbing documentaries, including 'Valley Uprising,' 'The Dawn Wall,' and 'The Alpinist.' He is the director of the new HBO series 'The Dark Wizard.'

Dean Potter

A climber and BASE jumper who was the subject of Mortimer's latest project, 'The Dark Wizard.' Potter was known for his daring and unconventional climbing and jumping stunts, and the series explores his complex motivations and struggles before his death in 2015.

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What they’re saying

“I knew Dean quite well, had lots of footage of him, and was actually working on a project with him when he died. (He didn't die filming, just jumping with another friend.) I always knew I wanted to tell his story. He was such a larger-than-life character, just so enigmatic. He had a darkness and a complex relationship with fear. I was intrigued by his personal motivation to do all these extreme things.”

— Peter Mortimer, Director

“Dean once said to his buddy Brad Lynch [a Boulder-based filmmaker who's footage appears in the docuseries], 'If I fall, you better get the shot.' It's something you wouldn't normally talk about because there's an assumption. And I only like to take on projects I feel good about.”

— Peter Mortimer, Director

What’s next

Mortimer's latest project, 'The Dark Wizard,' will premiere on HBO starting April 14, 2026, and he will be in attendance at the Boulder International Film Festival from April 9-12, 2026 for a Q&A session after the screenings.

The takeaway

Mortimer's films explore the complex motivations and mental health struggles of extreme athletes, highlighting the responsibility and tension that comes with capturing their daring feats on camera. 'The Dark Wizard' continues this tradition, providing a grounded and human perspective on the life and tragic death of climber and BASE jumper Dean Potter.