SWIMMING THROUGH

2022
Short Documentary

Directed by Samantha Sanders
Edited by John Farbrother

As the brutal Chicago winter draws near, Deirdre, Helen and Jennefer—avid open water swimmers—make a pact to continue through the snow and ice as the pandemic rages on. This intense commitment becomes their salvation from lockdown and helps alleviate each of their personal struggles. Initially just acquaintances, Swimming Through follows their friendship as it coalesces around their commitment to the daily ritual of swimming at sunrise in Lake Michigan.

Winner Audience Award Doc10 Film Festival
Winner Best U.S. Documentary San Francisco Short Film Festival
Winner Best Documentary Lake Placid Film Festival
Winner Best Documentary Short Minnesota Film Festival
Winner Festival Theme Award Ojai Film Festival
Mountainfilm
Berkshire International Film Festival
New Orleans Film Festival
Sabastopol Documentary Film Festival
RiverRun International Film Festival
Sedona Film Festival
Santa Fe Film Festival
Salem Film Festival
McMinnville Short Film Festival
Washington DC International Film Festival
Rhode Island International Film Festival
Julien Dubuque International Film Festival
Cinema Femme Short Film Festival
LunaFest Film Festival

Expertly paced, the film successfully condenses a complex story of isolation, grief and resilience into a tiny nutshell. A synergy of images, music and narrative conveys both the immense majesty of the lake and the enveloping emotions of the three women featured.
–Hyde Park Herald