The Glass Ceiling - Film
Dear Friends,
Many of you have been following my journey to make a documentary film about Nepal's most famous heroine, Pasang Lhamu Sherpa. I've made great progress in The Glass Ceiling and am pleased to announce I am in post production and editing a rough cut to be completed early 2015. 
Background
I first came to learn of Pasang's story through my brother-in-law, Dorjee Sherpa, Pasang's eldest brother, and knew immediately I had to be a part of telling the world about this amazing, courageous, groundbreaking Nepali woman.
(Dawa, Pasang's daughter, and Dorjee)
About the Film
The Glass Ceiling tells the story of Pasang Lhamu Sherpa, as she risks her life and battles profound obstacles to become the first Nepali woman to summit Mount Everest. Born in the shadow of the world's highest mountain, Pasang runs away from an arranged marriage at 18 to be with Sonam Sherpa. Exposed to foreign women climbers through the trekking company she starts with Sonam, Pasang decides to become the first Nepali woman to summit Mount Everest. She tries three times unsuccessfully, turned back by weather and climbing politics. On her third attempt she comes within 98 meters of the summit. On her fourth attempt her mission becomes bigger than herself. After battling her own government, she is finally granted the permit to lead--for the first time ever--a Nepali-sponsored expedition. Through her charisma and political skill, Pasang becomes the person through whom a fledgling nation stakes its claim to a mountain commandeered by foreign adventure seekers. There is exaltation on April 22, 1993 when it is radioed that she has become the first Nepali woman to summit Mount Everest. The following day word spreads that she has not returned from the summit. Sonam pulls together Sherpas from other expeditions to look for her. When her body is finally found--frozen just below the South Summit -- it is brought down to throngs of mourners and carried through the streets to lie in state at the Kathmandu soccer stadium.
Today, Nepali girls learn her story in school, and a new generation of Nepali women climbers looks to her as inspiration. Pasang’s story is anchored emotionally by her daughter Dawa. She tries to reconcile the devastating personal loss of her mother at a young age with her mother’s legacy as a national hero and symbol of hope for Nepali women.
Since beginning this film making journey, I have been privileged to meet Pasang's family and extended family, have interacted with current Nepali women climbers, and I have witnessed Pasang Lhamu Sherpa’s legacy very much alive in Nepal, where young girls still look to the image and memory of a simple Sherpa woman who showed a country her courage and resolve. Pasang continues to inspire Nepali women. 
Fundraising is always part of filmmaking. It's never ending, never enough, and absolutely necessary. We are a frugal production team, but making a feature length documentary takes money. Everything raised in this fundraising drive will go toward finalizing the rough cut. To date we have received financial support from individuals, from crowdfunding platforms, a Rubin Foundation grant, and my own personal investment. We are on the home stretch. With your help, we can bring this story to the people who need to hear it in 2015.
I now turn once again to the power of our collective networks and invite you to be a part of the financial support community. Please join me via this GoFundMe campaign by sharing forward in your Facebook feed and by email to welcome supporters. Any contribution amount is greatly appreciated. All funders will receive a thank you credit on our website and in the film’s acknowledgements. All contributions are tax deductible.
With sincerest gratitude,
Nancy Svendsen
Director/Executive Producer
The Glass Ceiling