Directed by Habiba Nosheen
Canada, Pakistan, U.S. | 2026 | Documentary | 93 min | Urdu, Bengali, English w/ subtitles
Sponsored by Deborah Schapiro and Lou Polish
Saturday, October 17 | 4:30 PM | BB
Wednesday, October 21 | 7:15 PM | BB
Directed by investigative journalist Habiba Nosheen (Peabody Award winner and three-time Emmy winner) and executive produced by Mariska Hargitay, Trish Adlesic, and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, The Gymnasts of Fisherman Colony embeds with a community of undocumented girls in Machar Colony, Pakistan. Amidst poverty and patriarchy, a new gymnastics team represents a ray of light for these teens. This sport provides a powerful outlet for these girls to claim their bodily autonomy in a society where they have limited power, where the very act of girls training and competing in gymnastics is controversial. This compelling coming-of-age journey follows the team as they train for the National Women’s Gymnastics Competition while navigating economic hardship, the human rights challenges of being stateless, and tricky routines on substandard equipment. The film emphasizes the joy, pride, and girl power that these young athletes experience along the way. In crafting an inspiring sports movie that demonstrates the value of athletics for disenfranchised communities, Nosheen sticks the landing. ~OO