Los Angeles, CA – May 11, 2026 – X4Pictures proudly announces that LOOKING UP, the critically acclaimed documentary feature directed by Elena Neuman, will be available to stream on Prime Video, Fandango At Home, Google Play, and other major North American digital platforms as well as DVD and Blu-ray beginning June 9.
LOOKING UP tells the inspiring story of Eitan Armon, a young man facing encroaching blindness, as he takes on the challenge of climbing the world’s most epic granite wall, El Capitan. The documentary shares a young man’s true story of overcoming limitations and turning challenges into opportunities.
At the age of 20, Eitan is diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a rare and incurable genetic disease that gradually causes blindness over time. With about 5% of his central vision remaining, Eitan decides to learn to rock climb in order to ascend Yosemite’s daunting El Capitan. Refusing to be limited by his visual disability, Eitan’s journey demonstrates that life has endless possibilities for those who approach it with positivity and resilience. In LOOKING UP, Eitan lets go of everything he can’t control and focuses on what he can.
Eitan’s story takes us to a breathtaking portaledge on El Capitan, where he camps 1,500 feet above Yosemite Valley, savoring peanut butter and soaking in
“This film is ultimately about what we choose to see, whether we face our limitations or let them define us. Eitan’s story moved me because he doesn’t pretend the darkness isn’t coming. He looks straight at it and chooses to climb. We hope audiences everywhere find something of themselves in his journey,” said filmmaker Elena Neuman.
“We’re movie lovers first , and every once in a while, a film comes along that reminds you why you got into this business. LOOKING UP is that film. Eitan’s story isn’t about what he’s losing , it’s about what he refuses to give up. That kind of spirit is rare on screen, and we knew the moment we saw it that we had to be the ones to bring it to audiences. This is exactly the kind of storytelling X4 Pictures exists to champion,” said Mat Levy, Partner, X4 Pictures.
The film follows him as he navigates his New York City neighborhood with a white cane, consults with his doctors at the University of Iowa, and explores groundbreaking advancements in stem cell retinal transplantation at the Institute for Vision Research. Along the way, we witness Eitan connecting with RP patients at more advanced stages of the disease, discussing positive mindset and the fundamentals of wellness with his professor and mentor Tal Ben Shachar, and developing a relationship with his climbing instructor, Willie Benegas.
Throughout Eitan’s climb to the summit, we come to appreciate the strength of character of a young man who has been dealt a bad hand and refuses to sink into despair. The film showcases Eitan’s resilience, great sense of humor and grit, and is an uplifting story of determination and survival at its finest.
LOOKING UP is directed and produced by filmmaker Elena Neuman who won the NYWIFT excellence in directing award for LOOKING UP. Director of Photography is Dani Tenenbaum and editor is Dennis Clark. Damian Benegas and Nils Bailey serve as Mountain Cinematographers. Michael Bryan Stein composed the original score and also wrote the original song Looking Up.
LOOKING UP, official trailer
LOOKING UP, Pre-Order to commence May 26 on Fandango
For more information please visit https://www.lookingupmovie.com.
About X4Pictures
X4 Pictures is a worldwide film distributor backed by more than 40 years of combined industry experience. The X4 team champions quality storytelling across every genre and scale of production. From compelling documentaries to unforgettable narratives, X4 Pictures are passionate advocates for the filmmakers they partner with, because at our core, they are movie lovers first.
