Mohammed Ali Naqvi’s ‘Hanging by a Wire’ opens in UK cinemas this month
Documentary ‘Hanging by a Wire’, which premiered to acclaim at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, will arrive in UK cinemas on 28 August 2026, bringing the gripping true story of Pakistan’s dramatic 2023 cable car rescue to British audiences.
Directed by Pakistani filmmaker Mohammed Ali Naqvi and produced by Naqvi and Bilal Sami, the film recounts the ordeal in Pakistan’s remote Himalayan foothills when a makeshift cable car carrying eight passengers, including six schoolboys, became stranded hundreds of feet above a ravine.
As fears grew that the remaining cable could fail, local rescuers launched a race against time to bring the passengers to safety. The rescue effort evolved into a powerful story of courage and community, with residents joining forces in an extraordinary bid to save lives.
Told through first-hand testimony and real footage captured during the rescue, ‘Hanging by a Wire’ offers an intimate look at the people behind one of Pakistan’s most remarkable rescue operations.
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The documentary debuted on opening day at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where it screened in competition for the Grand Jury Prize and played to sold-out audiences. It was produced by Mindhouse, EverWonder Studio, Universal Pictures Content Group and 64th Street Media, and will be distributed in the UK by Dogwoof.
Mohammed Ali Naqvi, director, producer and co-writer of the film, said: “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.”
‘Hanging by a Wire’ opens in UK cinemas on Friday 28th August 2026.
