Alexandra Helgerson

Jay Helgerson

In 1980 Jay Helgerson shocked the world, becoming the first person to run a marathon a week for a year – each race completed in under three hours. For the last ten years, his daughter, filmmaker Alexandra Helgerson, followed him with a camera in order to understand the eccentric man who raised her. What she gets are his projected anxieties, his struggles with physical age and emotional distress, all while he endlessly trains for the Boston Marathon. But as Jay trains, the film is nearly derailed by Alexandra’s encounter with a life threatening illness. Ultimately, AGE GROUP WINNER is an affirmation of the will to live.

As she turns forty - an age doctors once said she would never reach - Emma Fogarty, who lives with the rare and extremely painful condition Epidermolysis Bullosa, takes up an offer from longtime friend Colin Farrell; they agree to run the Dublin Marathon together, with Colin pushing Emma's wheelchair for the final four kilometres. Also follow their lives and the enduring friendship that has sustained them through the years.

"mm"s are m(usic(ian's))m(eetings) mostly held at the Who Unit? in Pittsburgh as a 21st century salon of sorts where formal interests can be broached casually.  Attendees delight in sharing their sometimes obscure & sometimes popular musical (& otherwise) loves.  For mm 49 (in the 37th month of "mm"'s history) a marathon listening party celebrating the music of Vivian Fine was decided upon.  Fine was a dedicated composer who produced a variety of work over a 70 year career. This movie, of course, is not an imitation of Ken Burns style documentary movie-making.  Instead, I gleefully mix the casualness & lively uninhibited conversation of mms with the formal exactitude of Fine's music.  I hope you enjoy it as an upstanding example of Punk Classical.  "Bah to the Bourgeoisie"!  Note that I'm starting to disappear in this movie - will you miss me when I'm gone?  This is my 111th feature & my 404th movie.

Claire Ghiringhelli, a Swiss Paralympic athlete, faces sacrifices and challenges in pursuit of her dream to represent Switzerland in rowing at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. The documentary captures her dedication, physical and mental struggles, and the determination that drives her to overcome every obstacle on the path to the most significant achievement of her career.

An Exercise in Perspective is an experimental documentary and fundraising film, which follows the story of blind runner Phil Harrison.  Born fully sighted, Phil has lost eyesight from two unfortunate moments – an injury to his left eye as a teenager, compounded by a cancer diagnosis in his right eye when he turned 60. He now has less than 5% vision, only afforded to him with an artificial iris.  Many people could become reserved after such bad luck — Phil has decided to run.  In 2026 he will run his first ever marathon, the London Marathon, raising money for the UK sight loss charity: RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People).  As the frontman of infamous punk band Social Security he has always been defiant and young-at-heart. The band provide the perfect soundtrack to his story.  Immersive, mixed-media and a DIY project — the documentary gives a perceptual insight into Phil’s excitable, scrappy and inspirational spirit.

A compelling British documentary following ten amateur athletes as they train for and compete in Ironman 70.3 Swansea. With themes of resilience, inclusion, and mental strength, the film is directed by Raymond Mouzon and edited by 18-year-old autistic filmmaker Sean Smith.

A young runner adventures solo from LA to Denver seeking answers and healing following a special love lost.

A year in the life of the Knight wrestling dynasty from suburban Norfolk, a family who pack a real punch... often at each other.