Rising Through The Fray
directed by
Courtney Montour
World Premiere
Set against the hard-hitting, fast-paced world of roller derby, Rising Through the Fray goes on an intimate and captivating journey with Indigenous Rising—the first team in roller derby history to break the barriers of representing a single country at the Roller Derby World Cup – a moment that ignited a change that pulsates throughout the sport and within each other.
Programmer's Notes
Filmmaker Courtney Montour offers intimate access to the players of Indigenous Rising, a borderless roller derby team, who participate in a beloved sport that promotes inclusivity but struggles with true diversity.
Indigenous Rising made history as the first team at the Roller Derby World Cup to represent a single country: the Indigenous peoples throughout Turtle Island. Yet, the heart of the film lies not in the action on the track, but in the intimate interviews where Montour fosters a space for genuine vulnerability. Teammates Sour Cherry, Krispy, and Hawaiian Blaze open up about their struggles with feeling disconnected from their Indigenous heritage—and the profound healing they’ve experienced through being part of the team.
Through Montour’s compelling direction, you can’t help but cheer for these athletes—and with the support of her creative team, their journeys leave a lasting impact. Rising Through the Fray transcends the confines of a sports film, in Montour’s skilful hands, it’s a story about identity, trauma, and the transformative power of community.
- Richard Pierre
Cast
N/A
About the Director
Courtney Montour is a Kanien’kehá:ka writer and director from Kahnawà:ke whose works have screened at TIFF, Big Sky, and Margaret Mead. Her film Mary Two-Axe Earley: I Am Indian Again (2021) won Best Documentary Short (imagineNATIVE and the American Indian Film Festival). A Playback 2024 TV Director of the Year, NDN Collective Changemaker Fellowship (2022) and King Charles III’s Coronation Medal, Courtney is a prolific voice in contemporary cinema.