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Senior Artistic Swimmers Push Physical and Societal Boundaries in Unsyncable Documentary

2023-09-28

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After an exciting premiere at Hot Docs 2023 that left audiences captivated and eager for more, the highly-anticipated documentary Unsyncable made its Broadcast Debut on VisionTV on October 9 at 9pm ET / 6pm PT. The film’s two sold-out screenings at the festival served as a testament to its compelling storytelling and the excitement it generated among the eager audience.

Unsyncable, written and directed by Megan Wennberg, follows six senior artistic swimmers (aged 63 – 82) preparing for the U.S. Masters Artistic Swimming Championships (formerly known as synchronized swimming). One is going for gold, another knows she’ll come last, and others are going for community and the love of their team. They will all push physical, emotional and societal boundaries to get there. Collectively, they have lost partners, suffered injuries and contended with ageist assumptions about what they can do. But through it all, they keep swimming and they do it with a smile.

Unsyncable is produced by Tell Tale Productions with producer Edward Peill and producer Erin Oakes.

The documentary’s eclectic cast includes world champion and synchro legend Sue Baross Nesbitt (68), rookie Ellen Scott (63), Cris Meier-Windes (68) of the San Francisco Tsunami LGBTQ+ team, former marine Luther Gales (82) and his teammates Monica Hale (68) and Joyce Clarke (71) of the Harlem Honeys and Bears (North America’s only all Black artistic swimming team). Together these athletes are a testament to perseverance, the resilience of the human spirit, and our endless capacity for growth at any age.

“By jumping in the pool and pushing their limits every practice, Sue, Ellen, Cris, Monica, Luther and Joyce kick back against the expectation that getting older means slowing down and succumbing to our limitations,” says Director Megan Wennberg. “I hope they will inspire audiences to see aging in a new light – not as something to dread, but as something to aspire to as we all ‘rage against the dying of the light’ in our own unique ways.”

WATCH A PREVIEW:

Unsyncable was made in partnership with ZoomerMedia, and participation of the Telus Fund, Rogers Documentary Fund, Canada Media Fund, Active Aging Canada, Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging Western University, the government of Canada, and the government of Nova Scotia.

After 2 massively successful sold out screenings this past spring at Hot Docs, a International Documentary Festival based in Toronto, Unsyncable returns to VisionTV on Monday March 4, 2024 at 9pm ET / 6pm PT .

The film continues its festival run having screened in September at Atlantic Film Festival, and Calgary International Film Festival and Lunenburg Doc Festival. Not to mention a busy cross-Canada community outreach tour, including moderated screenings, with educational materials and discussion guides, encouraging active living amongst older adults.

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