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CSFF
Film of the Month

Canadian Sport Film Festival

Film of the Month

CSFF is pleased to feature a Film of the Month series.

Each month we showcase a different short film from around the world on the theme of sport. 

The CSFF Film of the Month for August is:  

IRON HANDS

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August 2023

Iron Hands

A twelve-year old girl tries out for the traditionally all-boys Chinese youth Olympic weightlifting team. As she prepares for her final test, she makes an unlikely connection with the weightlifting gym’s reclusive groundskeeper.

2017, Drama, China, United States
11 minutes

Director: Johnson Cheng

Chinese, with English sub-titles

– Iron Hands had its World Premiere at Tribeca 2017 and screened at TIFF Kids, Reykjavik and other festivals before screening at CSFF 2018

- short film directed by Johnson Cheng. Screened at CSFF 2018.

CSFF Rewind

Film of the Month – Archive

Watch previous CSFF Films of the Month in our archive below.

August 2023

Watch the CSFF Film of the Month sportfilmfestival.ca - white text over (black light) brick background.

July 2023

Kickstart_Street Soccer Canada_CSFFFOTM

Kickstart

In 2014, Street Soccer Canada sponsored Team Canada at the Homeless World Cup in Santiago, Chile. Players and coaches reflect on the positive impacts that playing soccer has had on their lives.

2014, Documentary, Canada
12 minutes

Director: Richard Fitoussi

Homeless World Cup – How it began

June 2023

Still image from the short doc 'Inuit High Kick' directed by Alethea Arnaquq-Baril.

Inuit High Kick

Director Alethea Arnaquq-Baril uses super slow motion to magnify the incredible skill and physicality needed to perform the Inuit one-foot high kick — a traditional Inuit event in which the athlete stands on one foot, jumps in the air, kicks a suspended sealskin ball, then lands on the same foot. 

2009, Documentary, Canada
2 minutes

Director:
Alethea Arnaquq-Baril

May 2023

Image of Bill McFadyen, 73-year-old power lifter from Scotland from the short doc 'Ma Bar' (2009).

Ma Bar

Scotland’s Bill McFadyen was a world champion power lifter at age 73. His Masters 4 world record for bench press at 175kg (385 lbs) still stands.

2009, Documentary, United Kingdom
12 minutes

Produced and Directed by:
Adrian McDowall & Finlay Pretsell

 

March 2023

Image from Just Breathe short doc about female water polo player who overcame anxiety and assault.

Just Breathe

A competitive water polo player overcomes anxiety and assault to realize her dreams as a college athlete and leader.

2015, Documentary, United States
8 minutes

Director: Ben Steinbauer

December 2022

Poster for the film Gnarly in Pink with 3 6-year old girls in helmets with skateboards

Gnarly In Pink

Celebrating the “Pink Helmet Posse”, three feisty 6-year-old girls who prove that skateboarding is not just for boys.

2014, Documentary, United States
8 minutes

Directors: Kristelle Laroche and Ben Mullinkosson

November 2022

Boy defends football goal as a ball comes towards him

My Greatest Day Ever

On the morning of the football grand final Scotty’s lucky sock is nowhere to be found. Scotty must battle his superstition to try to save the big game.

2007, Drama, Australia
9 minutes

Director: Mark Bellamy

October 2022

Image: Close up of a ballet dancer’s legs standing wide with her toes on pointe. Film title below image: The Perfect Fit

The Perfect Fit

Dedicated craftsmen masterfully create perfect footwear for the graceful and demanding athletic artistry of ballet.

2011, Documentary, United Kingdom
9 minutes

Director: Tali Yankelevich

September 2022

A Black boy in a yellow shirt rests a baseball bat over his shoulder. Film title above image: Baseball in the Time of Cholera

Baseball in the Time of Cholera

A young baseball player dreams of the big leagues amid the tragedy and scandal of Haiti’s cholera epidemic.

2012, Documentary, Haiti
28 minutes

Directors: David Darg and Bryn Mooser
(RYOT Films)

August 2022

The torso of a female synchronized swimmer below the waterline. Film title above: Waterbabies

Waterbabies

Discover the strength, grace and artistry of synchronized swimming through the eyes of a teenage team.

2015, Documentary, United States, United Kingdom
16 minutes

Director: Nora Ballard

July 2022

Fast Horse

Capturing the thrill of “North America’s original extreme sport”: Blackfoot bareback horse racing Indian Relay.

2018, Documentary, Canada
13 minutes

Director: Alexandra Lazarowich