Women's Adventure Film Tour

MAKING IT

What does it mean to “make it” in sport? And what does it cost to try … 

Behind the TV highlights and media headlines, women and non-binary athletes grind away to reach their goals, so many falling agonisingly short.

Australian sports journalist Kate Allman, in collaboration with award-winning filmmakers Story Mill Studios, share the untold stories of four high-profile female athletes in different sports. Through their journeys, the film explores the physical and emotional challenges, sacrifices, and determination required to make a name in the fiercely competitive world of professional sports.

Starring Championship Tour surfer India Robinson, former captain of the Australian Diamonds netball team Caitlin Bassett, former Olympic hopeful skier Annabel Blake and Indigenous rugby player Aneeka Reilly.

THE GIRL THAT FOUND HAPPINESS

“The girl who found happiness”. Combining my two passions and following the path to finding myself through a stunt.

Director: Timothy Parrant

EXTREME MINDS: FREEDIVING SEGMENT

Extreme Minds is a groundbreaking documentary that delves deep into the mental health benefits of extreme sports. This feature-length film combines personal stories of athletes with expert insights from psychologists who specialise in adventure therapy. The film showcases how extreme sports have the power to transform lives, improve mental and emotional well-being, and build resilience.

Viewers will be captivated by the personal journeys of athletes who have faced mental health challenges and found healing and solace in extreme sports. The documentary features interviews with highlining, BASE jumping, big wave surfing, and freediving athletes who share their inspiring stories of overcoming trauma, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues through their participation in these sports.

As a case study, the film introduces an individual who is facing mental health challenges and has never tried extreme sports before. The documentary follows this individual as they receive guidance and advice from the athletes featured in the film and participate in extreme sports. The experiences of the case study, including their interactions with sporting communities, are captured in the film, and viewers will see firsthand how extreme sports can be a therapeutic tool for those facing similar challenges.

This groundbreaking documentary pushes the boundaries of conventional therapy and highlights the potential of extreme sports as a means of promoting healing and well-being.

THE DESTINY OF A SHERPA WOMAN

Step by step. To the rhythm of Yangji's sure and steady pace, we walk through her life journey, as she returns after many years of absence to the poor village in the Everest region where she grew up. She who turned her back on the mountain as a teenager in the hope of escaping the misery that reigns in the valley of her childhood never thought she would come back, and even less so with the title of mountain guide...

This portrait is part of a series entitled 'Altitudes' which explores the many facets of the relationship between man and mountain across the world and cultures.

Director: Louise Thaller, Stanislas Giroux

THE ASCENSION SERIES - MORAG SKELTON

Morag Skelton believes that nothing should come between anyone and getting out there in nature. As a deaf climber constantly pushing the limits of possible, she lives that belief.

The Ascension Series explores stories of people pushing through barriers to define themselves in the great outdoors. Part two features Morag Skelton who doesn’t let being deaf limit what’s possible on the mountainside.

A BITCH OF A RACE

Cyclist Anna Lena Kempen gave life to the idea for The Frigid Bitch Race over 9 years ago because there wasn’t a space for her in the male-dominated cycling field. She wanted to create an inclusive space for women (and quickly realized the importance of including all underrepresented genders). The race would be harder, longer, colder and more terrible and awesome than other races, and it would be just for us.

Director: Danielle Dawn DiVito

SOLO

Solo is the account of one woman's mission to run solo and unsupported across mountain ranges on six continents—overcoming obstacles, conquering fears and finding the joy in achieving her goals absolutely alone.