Learning to Fly

Aisha McAdams is a photographer and former competitive runner who travels to document the experiences of renowned ultra trailrunners. The film follows her as she captures the challenges and successes of athletes like Eszter Csillag and Jim Walmsley. Set during major competitions such as the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in the French Alps and the Western States Endurance Run in eastern California, the story focuses on the endurance required to run 100 miles across mountainous terrain with significant elevation gains.

This documentary was directed by Max Lowe, following his 2021 film Torn. The production was a collaboration between companies from the United States, France, Switzerland, Italy, China, and Hong Kong, including Unreasonable Studios and Wild State. The cast features McAdams, Walmsley, Csillag, and Rod Farvard appearing as themselves. Produced by Ayesha Rokadia, Katy Chevigny, and Evan Hayes, the film has a total runtime of 103 minutes.