Netflix’s Skywalkers: A Love Story is a 2024 documentary film directed by Jeff Zimbalist, and co-directed by Maria Bukhonina. The producers are Jeff Zimbalist, Maria Bukhonina, Tamir Ardon, and Chris Smith. The film is about rooftopping and stars Angela Nikolau and Vanya Beerkus.
Starting As A Film About Rooftoppers
The film started as a project about rooftoppers. These are people who climb to the top of the world’s tallest buildings without safety nets or permission. Filmmaker Jeff Zimbalist was always fascinated by these risk-takers. He had tried rooftopping on a smaller scale when he was younger and was interested to see it becoming popular on social media.
One rooftopper who stood out was Angela Nikolau. She was one of the few women in the rooftopping world. She introduced Jeff Zimbalist to Ivan Beerkus, another rooftopper. Angela and Ivan started doing joint posts together, and they were very interesting and good on camera.
In a recent interview with The Associated Press, Jeff Zimbalist stated, “We had no idea what the finish line was. We took a big chance on this.”
Discovering The Love Story
While filming Skywalkers: A Love Story, which is currently available on Netflix, Jeff Zimbalist instantly recognized something unique. Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus were in love. This formed the film’s main plot. The thrilling rooftopping scenes served as the backdrop.
Just like climbing a tall building without permission, making the film was not easy or straightforward. The small team spent six years making the film. They traveled to six countries with Angela and Ivan to film their rooftopping adventures.
Where was “Skywalkers: A Love Story” Filmed?
Skywalkers: A Love Story was filmed in various breathtaking locations throughout the world. The documentary highlights popular rooftopping locations such as the Goldin Finance 117 in Tianjin, China, and the Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Additional filming occurred in Russia, France, Dubai, Hong Kong, and Turkey. The documentary captures the majestic Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris in France and Suicide Cliff in Kowloon City, Hong Kong.
The filming of Skywalkers: A Love Story lasted six years. It began in 2017 and concluded in 2023. During this time, the production team flew to many countries to document Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus’ rooftopping adventures.
Goldin Finance 117, Tianjin, China
The Goldin Finance 117 in Tianjin, China, serves as one of the film’s primary locations. This structure stands 1,957 feet (596.6 meters) tall. Angela and Ivan scaled the skyscraper for the documentary.
Merdeka 118, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Another key location is the Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This building is even taller, at 2,227 feet (679 meters). The filmmakers captured Angela and Ivan posing on top of this massive structure.
Other Filming Locations
The team also traveled to other countries to capture the rooftopping adventures of Angela and Ivan. Here are some other locations featured in the film:
France: Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris in France.
Russia: Angela Nikolau’s home country, where some of the first rooftopping sequences were shot.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Famous for its tall buildings, Dubai was an ideal place for rooftopping.
Hong Kong: Another city with many buildings, which serves as a spectacular backdrop for the film.
Turkey: The team shot some unusual rooftopping scenes in this country. Also shot at Suicide Cliff in Kowloon City.
Skywalkers: A Love Story is not just about the thrill of rooftopping. It is also a beautiful love story set against the backdrop of some of the tallest buildings in the world. The film shows the courage and passion of Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus as they climb to new heights together.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Skywalkers: A Love Story
Q: Where was Skywalkers: A Love Story filmed?
A: Skywalkers: A Love Story was filmed in several stunning locations across the globe. The documentary features prominent rooftopping sites including the Goldin Finance 117 in Tianjin, China, and the Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Additional filming took place in Russia, France, Dubai, Hong Kong, and Turkey.
Q: When was Skywalkers: A Love Story filmed?
A: The filming of Skywalkers: A Love Story took place over six years. It began in 2017 and wrapped up in 2023. The production team traveled to multiple countries during this period to capture the rooftopping adventures of Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus.
Q: When is the release date of Skywalkers: A Love Story?
A: Skywalkers: A Love Story was released on Netflix in 2024. The exact release date was not specified, but it became available for streaming earlier this year.
Q: Who are the main subjects of Skywalkers: A Love Story?
A: The main subjects of Skywalkers: A Love Story are Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus. They are rooftoppers known for climbing some of the tallest buildings in the world without safety nets or permission. Their love story is a central focus of the documentary.
Q: Who directed Skywalkers: A Love Story?
A: Skywalkers: A Love Story was directed by Jeff Zimbalist and co-directed by Maria Bukhonina. The film was produced by Jeff Zimbalist, Maria Bukhonina, Tamir Ardon, and Chris Smith.
