the film fest was borne from a desire to create a catalyst for more creative films connected to running. in this third year, we have adjusted the categories for submission and prizing to allow for more films at the festival, and to prioritize original films premiered at the festival.
the official selection films were evaluated by our judges (brenden clarke - director and photographer, darcy hennessey turenne - director and writer, simon freeman - like the wind magazine co-founder, julie freeman - like the wind magazine co-founder, and brad peyton - film director), in the following categories:
run again
by alexis berg.
dave pen is the singer of archive, an english rock band that has been selling out europe's biggest venues for 30 years. but this father from southampton is condemned to silence. with covid, archive hasn’t played live in 4 years. dave, 45, is looking for a new lease of life. he signs up for england’s toughest event. the spine race and its 268 miles in winter. the race of a lifetime and a multi-faceted quest that, in the end, may never end.
troubled waters
by antoine paikert.
in a world where toxic masculinity thrives, young men are increasingly drawn to voices that perpetuate dangerous ideas about manhood and its place in society. it has become a cliché to expect men to respond to life's challenges with "anger" and "violence”, be it verbal or physical. these reactions, shaped by generations of unprocessed emotions and inherited trauma, come from the long standing conditioning of men suppressing their feelings. this film offers a glimpse into the internal journey of a man navigating these pressures, moving from denial to acceptance.
caboose
by dan king.
a story about running, mental health & one person’s search for sanctuary in one of the harshest environments on earth. caboose is set against the backdrop of an unsupported, unsanctioned 500km team relay running race across the atacama desert called the speed project.
for tom reynolds – a self-confessed slow runner from manchester, UK – it reflects a reckless desire for adventure following a tumultuous 12 months full of loss, grief and mental health struggles.
infranchissable
by alexa fay.
in the heart of the chic-choc mountain range, along winding, technical and remote trails, two new UTCC events – a 170km and an 88km race – traverse the entire range. given their elevation gain, technical difficulty and the time limits in place, these races could rank among the toughest in the world. this film follows three runners and the race director throughout the event. faced with fatigue, pain and suffering, the runners will have to dig deep to achieve the improbable and overcome the insurmountable.
possibility
by erik goerisch schereder & johannes rapprich.
over the past ten years, nicki lange has trained, stumbled, quit, and returned – always driven by two simple questions: what if? why not?
these questions become the heartbeat of "possibility”, a raw and intimate documentary that captures a man confronting the limits of his body and the narratives of his past. set against the surreal vastness of the atacama desert, the more than 400 km run of the speed project atacama becomes a canvas for reflection and finding the answer to what if, why not.
zovi: my journey to the start
by owen halstad.
zovi ong is a multi-talented visual artist who has spent the past decade as an illustrator in france, china, and new york, creating illustrations for some of the largest social justice organizations in the world, and currently is the lead illustrator for the artwork you see on new york city's subways, trains, and ferry systems. in recent years, zovi has used physical exercise, most recently, running in new york city, to unlock her own inspiration both personally and creatively.
high frequency
by brian davis.
the hardrock 100, revered as one of the toughest and most stunning ultra-running races in the world, draws athletes from across the globe. this short film takes you inside the journey of runner luke jay, as he attempts to conquer his first hardrock 100 after waiting 10 years just for the chance to stand at the starting line. determined to complete this brutal challenge, luke battles the unforgiving terrain and his own limits. buckle up for a raw, intense, and unconventional take on a running story, where grit and endurance are pushed to their breaking point.
in the footsteps of banryu
by matt green.
in the footsteps of banryu is inspired by the monk banryu, who became the first to summit mount yari, earning his place in history as the father of japanese alpinism. following in his path, four runners head off on a fastpacking journey across the legendary daikiretto ridge, which culminates in an attempt to break the fastest known time (FKT) on yake-dake, or 'the burning mountain,' an infamous VK up an active volcano. along the way, they travel from mountain hut to mountain hut, immersing themselves in japan's rich mountain culture.
shaunta-maé: my journey to the start
by owen halstad.
shaunta-maé has been a fighter her entire life. abused in the foster care system throughout her childhood, diagnosed with crohn’s disease, endometriosis, and autoimmune disease in high school, paralyzed in 2019 due to a rare reaction to a medication after a colonoscopy that led to a neurological condition, and paralyzed again in 2021 due to a relapse of the condition, shaunta-maé has worked tirelessly to take control of her circumstances. in january 2022, she found peloton, and that one decision led her to the start line of the 2025 united airlines nyc half to run her first half marathon. this is her journey to show her "little self" and anyone in the world like her why her disability does not disqualify her from her purpose.
brutal
by pedro damasio.
UTMB is the dream of 9 out of 10 trail runners. in august 2024, brazilian ultramarathoner jéferson dias completed the 101km CCC race with the corre trilha 2 on his feet, feeling in his body (and soul) the challenges that make this race one of the toughest and most unforgiving on the planet.
it's your turn to vote for best overall film. please watch the films above, and then click on the button below to submit your selection.
voting will be open until aug 10th.