SCREENING NIGHT 1
GO DANI GO, Directed by Chelsea Patricia Ramirez
A spunky girl helping her mother in the fields must choose between putting soccer or family first.
BONNEVILLE BROTHERS, Directed by Tommaso Magnano [Italy]
Italian brothers fulfill their Bonneville dreams.
La Lucha (The Fight), Directed by Matthew Tan
lucha, noun. | loo-chah |
1. Fight: referring to the violent exchange of physical blows (e.g., a boxing match).
2. Struggle: a unique Cuban slang referring to the day-to-day efforts required to surmount adverse economic odds.
The film offers a rare glimpse into the Cuban experience, paralleling a day in the lives of two boxers in Havana, one at the start of his competitive career and the other at his end. The former is 7-year-old Daniel who dreams of becoming a national boxing star, and is optimistic that he will win his training fight. The latter, Evelio, is a 45-year-old former combat-sport champion who now – like many Cubans – works multiple jobs in order to make an adequate living. Their intertwined narratives reflect Cuban ambition, and the way in which it is hampered by the realities of living in a country weighed by an economic siege for the past 60 years. Unlike Evelio, Daniel has yet to realize that the real Cuban fight is the one that lies not within the boxing ring, but beyond.
BUCKING ON THE REZ, Directed by Ziyi Xu
Amid swirling dust and untamed horizon, two young indigenous women saddle up to challenge sexism and adulthood as they navigate the world of bull riding on the Navajo Nation reservation.
Skate Fast Turn Left, Directed by Mary Hawkins
Two friends, Fifi Fleshwound and Little Mary Switchblade, have a quick conversation about their roller derby years… Created for Things Took A Turn, an animation anthology that challenges artists of marginalized genders to create new animated short stories by twisting familiar narratives.
A Violet Blooms, Directed by Prabhat Seelamsetti
Gery makes the leap from the youth soccer team to the testosterone-overloaded combat team. He is pushed from all sides into desired futures – he tries to match all of them without knowing what he actually wants himself.
Transenders, Directed by Diane Russo Cheng
An intimate look into Skate Like A Girl, a nonprofit skateboarding organization, through the eyes of Alexa, a trans woman skateboarder and mentor. Directed, filmed, edited, final color and music by an all-female and/or queer creative lead team.
Bless the Child, Directed by Cole Johnson
After observing sound’s impact on those around him, a child with “sensory processing sensitivity” attempts to overcome the chaos of the New York City streets.
Swim Captain, Directed by Christa Haley
A high school swimmer struggles with her tampon before practice.
Slow Down The Fall, Directed by Camille Tricaud and Franziska Unger [France]
In the light of the Alps, a great ski-jumping hill flashes metallically. Two ski jumpers synchronously rehearse movements in the valley, answer generic questions in front of a green screen and pose on the hill while being watched by a film crew. It is the first reunion for the two athletes since their separation.
Flyweight, Directed by Parker V Sack
An MMA fighter puts her body through hell to lose 15 pounds in a week.
We Clap for Airballs, Directed by Sai Selvarajan
We Clap For Airballs is a layered documentary – visually, expressively, and thematically — where the basketball court is a safe space for queer and trans BIPOC people to play, feel seen, and valued by one another. With Swish, healing in community happens on the blacktop.
SCREENING NIGHT 2
Shot Clock, Directed by King Lu
3 teenagers – an Asian boy, Black boy, and Latina girl – weaponize their race and gender to hustle people at basketball in LA. But when the on-court gamesmanship gets too real, things go south.
The Michael Leon Project , Directed by Blake Horn
“The Michael Leon Project” is a short documentary that follows University of Michigan soccer star, Michael Leon, as he returns to his hometown of Accra, Ghana to give 100 uniforms to the youth team that ignited his passion for soccer. Explore Michael’s Ghanaian roots, feel the unbreakable bonds of his community, and witness the transformative power of sports. This documentary serves as a tribute to the lasting impact of philanthropy and the profound results of following your dreams.
Fighting Blind, Directed by Margarida Duque de Castela
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu martial artist and family man Angel Adorno shares the victories and challenges of being blind in a sighted world, on and off the mat. Designed for blind audiences, the film explores Angel’s resilience in overcoming a difficult past as he learns to trust himself and others.
False Start, Directed by Kansas Ballesteros
A college swimmer must manage her trauma while continuing to train.
The Pahlevan On 5th Ave, Directed by Pranay Sanwal
This film uncovers the story of an Iranian rug dealer on Fifth Avenue whose prolific career in the sport of wrestling is concealed beneath a veil of humility.
AhmadReza Buffon, Directed by Morteza Shahbazi
The teenagers of a village are preparing for a football match. They forcibly play with a disabled teenager and a stranger who is very interested in goalkeeping and Italian goalkeeper Buffon instead of their absent teammate. Ahmadreza’s poor performance makes the children throw him out of the playground, but…
Driving Force, Directed by Daniela Magnani Hüller [Germany]
Dream job: Racing driver! In the male domain of motorsport, this goal seems impossible for women. Nevertheless, Laura Kraihamer and Claudia Hürtgen have made it into this high-risk sport. While Laura fights for victory every week, Claudia looks back on an outstanding professional career. Two women driven by passion who defy all odds.