The second annual Uninterrupted Film Festival allowed fans access to exclusive programming, elite athletes and insightful panels. It also gave a platform to filmmakers telling unique stories about athletes.
A selection committee consisting of tennis star Naomi Osaka, Lakers great LeBron James, and seven-time NBA All-Star Joel Embiid picked eight films to screen during the festival. Among the eight, the selection committee presented an award to the documentary “Moving Mountains.”
The documentary follows surfer Tre’lan Michael and his deep relationship with the ocean and big wave surfing. “Moving Mountains” director and executive producer Jessa Williams wanted to create a documentary about Michael after developing a romantic relationship with him.
“As I was getting to know him and he was talking to me about his love of surfing and his relationship with the water and how deep that relationship was to him, I was really moved by what he was saying,” Williams said. “As we continued dating and getting to know each other, I started to learn more about his backstory.”
Williams was inspired by his story and thought best to share with others. While she did not have formal training in filmmaking, Williams has over a decade of marketing experience. That enhanced her ability to tell a story and create content. Williams also knows how to relate to others.
“I know and understand innately people and how to listen to their stories, connect with them through listening to them,” Williams said. “It was meeting [Michael] and being so inspired by [Michael] that even though I didn’t feel like I had all the pieces, I moved forward with figuring out how to get the pieces.”
Earning the award was surreal for [Michael]; he called the committee of athletes “titans.”
“Somebody that means so much to me on an individual basis meaning [James] even knew that I exist is a trippy experience,” Michael said. “If it wasn’t for [Williams], it probably wouldn’t have happened.”
A native of Cleveland, Williams has followed James and Maverick Carter as they developed Uninterrupted. Having “Moving Mountains” selected to be in the film festival felt like an award, according to Williams.
“This is an example of one of those many stories that typically goes untold and that’s why we love Uninterrupted,” Williams said. “It doesn’t take being a professional athlete or a superstar athlete to be able to move people and inspire people through your own life story”
