The misty forests above North Vancouver, British Columbia are hallowed ground for mountain biking, a place so harrowing it’s influenced every aspect of the sport for over 30 years. It’s also where Betty Birrell, at age 45, picked up mountain biking after a career as a mountaineer and professional windsurfer. Three decades later, the single mother is a role model for her son, her friends and anyone she’s met along the way —and proof that you’re never too old to send.
This film was part of Program 1, Summer Fest 2023, VIMFF 2023, VIMFF 2023 Tour and is no longer available for viewing.
Darcy Hennessey is one of the most awarded and prolific female action-sports filmmakers in the industry today. Her first feature-length film,“The Moment”,- a documentary about they inception of extreme mountain biking- was the closing film of the 2017 Whistler Film Festival and sold out over 100 screenings worldwide. Now acquired by RedBull Television, it debuted at #3 on the US iTunes Independant Film charts and continues to be a top international seller. Her latest short film “Elle Aime/She Likes” was a Vimeo Staff Pick and was later chosen as one of Vimeo’s “Best of the Year” films.
A staple in the outdoor, environmental, and action sports communities, her work extends far beyond the sports world. Her quirky short film about a philanthropic hoarder premiered at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, and she regularly writes, shoots, and directs commercial spots for clients ranging from Audi to Patagonia.
Known for her whimsical visuals and nuanced storytelling, her interests and scope as a director span from narrative to fiction, documentary, and everything (weird and wonderful) in between. Her love of exploration is evident in her work and experience filming in over 25 countries. Darcy is also well-regarded internationally from her past career as a professional mountain biker, and has been featured in hundreds of publications worldwide, including Rolling Stone and Men’s Journal.
Despite her many adventures, she regards giving birth to her sons as the craziest thing she’s done to date.
Since the earliest days of Felt Soul Media, co-founder Travis Rummel has found success by taking on projects he cares deeply about. With over 60+ awards and two Oscar-qualifying feature documentaries under his belt, he must be doing something right.
With a deep focus on character, Travis has brought environmental issues like dam removal and large-scale mining in pristine watersheds to a general audience, while still managing to get some laughs and tears out of their audiences in the process.
