Skywalkers: Jeff Zimbalist on Filming the Ultimate High-Stakes Love Story

Filmmaker Jeff Zimbalist created a documentary titled Skywalkers: A Love Story. This Netflix film follows Angela Nikolau and Ivan “Vanya” Beerkus, a young Russian couple who share a passion for climbing tall buildings. They don’t just climb; they also capture breathtaking photos and videos of their daring poses at great heights, without safety nets. A slip could be deadly.

Zimbalist joined the Doc Talk podcast to discuss the film. He described himself as a former “roof topper” but noted that he never attempted to climb the 118-story Merdeka mega-skyscraper in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where Angela and Vanya undertook their biggest challenge.

Podcast co-host John Ridley called Skywalkers the scariest film he has ever seen due to its suspenseful moments. Zimbalist emphasized that the film’s core lies in the couple’s relationship. The story explores whether Angela can fully trust Vanya, both during their climbs and in everyday life.

Zimbalist previously directed The Two Escobars, a well-received ESPN documentary, with his brother Michael. He also discussed his interest in a recent documentary about author Norman Mailer.

You can listen to the podcast episode on platforms like Spotify, iHeart, and Apple Podcasts.