CSFF 2021
May 14-16, 2021
DIGITAL Festival
Canadian Sport film Festival
CSFF 2021
Undaunted by the pandemic, CSFF presented the 13th annual Canadian Sport Film Festival virtually from May 14-16, 2021 via digital TIFF Bell Lightbox.
CSFF was proud to present the Canadian Premiere of the feature documentary A Most Beautiful Thing, plus two short films about rowing – all available online across Canada to viewers from coast to coast to coast.
Find links to CSFF 2021 festival bonus content below:
- Boys from the Back of Beyond
- Rowing the River
- plus CSFF Q&A sessions with the film’s star and special guests
Thanks to our generous sponsors and partners for making CSFF 2021 possible.
Check out this news story about our 2021 screening sponsor Hudson Boat Works.
CSFF 2021
A Most Beautiful Thing
Canadian Premiere
‘A Most Beautiful Thing‘ chronicles the first African American public high school rowing team in the US, made up of young men, many of whom were in rival gangs from the West Side of Chicago.
Based on the memoir of team captain, Arshay Cooper, and narrated by award-winning artist Common, this movie explores the trauma of violence and cyclical poverty, examining how these young men were able to support each other in reimagining a different future for themselves.
After 20 years in the boat, the men reunite to celebrate the team’s founding and race together one more time.
“Stay strong. Be true. Go the distance.”
2020, Documentary, United States
95 minutes
Director: Mary Mazzio 50 Eggs Films
More on A Most Beautiful Thing
Festival Feature
Screening Sponsor
CSFF 2021
Boys from the Back of Beyond
Festival Bonus Content
They say it takes a village to raise a child. But it takes an extraordinary village to raise a pair of Olympians. Meet the O’Donovan brothers, who catapulted to international fame after Rio 2016, and the endearing residents of the town of Skibbereen.
2018, Documentary, United Kingdom & Ireland
14 minutes
Directors: Johnny Madderson & Jono Stevens
- Part of the Red Bull docu-series The Way of the Wildcard
- Learn more about the Boys from the Back of Beyond:
Director’s Notes | Short of the Week
CSFF 2021
Rowing the River
Festival Bonus Content
In a loving dedication to her late father, Wendy shares the beauty and elegance of the sport of rowing as this crew of ordinary women enjoy some fun and exercise on a midsummer row.
2017, Documentary, Canada
2 minutes
Director: Empty Cup Media
CSFF Q&A Sessions
Post-Screening Bonus Content
CSFF in Conversation
Watch the CSFF Q&A with:
Arshay Cooper, star of the film ‘A Most Beautiful Thing’ and author of the memoir on which the film is based.
Interviewed by world champion hurdler, TV host and author, Perdita Felicien.
Introduction by 2021 Canadian National Team Athlete (rowing), Victoria Nolan.
Post-Screening Bonus Content
CSFF Live Q&A
Watch the CSFF Live Q&A with:
Arshay Cooper, author and star of the film ‘A Most Beautiful Thing’, and
Kubet Weston, four-time World Championship medalist and physiotherapist, and the first Black rower on the Canadian Olympic Team.
Interviewed by multi-platform journalist and sports activist, Shireen Ahmed.
Thanks to our CSFF 2021 Sponsors & Partners
The Canadian Sport Film Festival is grateful to our sponsors and partners for making CSFF 2021 possible.
Thanks for your support!
CSFF In the News
@amostbeautifulthing – Instagram #CanadianPremiere #CSFF21
- Row Ontario partners with CSFF for Canadian Premiere of A Most Beautiful Thing – Row Ontario – April 15, 2021
A portion of CSFF 2021 ticket sales plus donations went to the
Row Ontario IDEA Fund (Inclusion Diversity Equity Accessibility)
News story about our CSFF 2021 Screening Sponsor Hudson Boat Works
The London Free Press – May 25, 2021