Watch Well Beings’ latest installment of the “Out of the Dark” short documentary series, Out of the Dark: Jaleen Roberts
Watch the Full Film | Out of the Dark: Jaleen Roberts
Paralympic sprinter and long-jumper Jaleen Roberts was at her peak when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, postponing the 2020 Paralympic Games. What followed was a mental health crisis more challenging than anything she’d ever encountered. This short documentary delves into Jaleen’s journey, from her upbringing with a disability to her ascent as an elite athlete. It explores her profound struggles with mental health and how she ultimately found the support necessary to survive and eventually go on to win the Paralympic Silver medal.
Since making its world premiere earlier this year, Out of the Dark: Jaleen Roberts has been officially selected for an impressive lineup of film festivals, including:
- Global Peace Film Festival, Out of the Dark: Jaleen Roberts
- Woods Hole Film Festival, Out of the Dark: Jaleen Roberts
- Tacoma Film Festival, Out of the Dark: Jaleen Roberts
Out of the Dark: Cal Calamia Trailer
The short documentary film, Out of the Dark: Cal Calamia, shares an intimate and inspiring look at the journey of professional athlete Cal Calamia, a transgender marathon runner who is advocating for inclusion in the running world.
A production of WETA Washington, D.C., and Athletes for Hope, and directed by Redglass Pictures, the film is part of the Well Beings’ Out of the Dark documentary series.
Major funding is provided by The David and Lura Lovell Foundation with additional support for Out of the Dark provided by the Bender Foundation, Inc., Path Foundation, American Psychiatric Association Foundation.
Since making its world premiere earlier this year at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival, Out of the Dark: Cal Calamia has been officially selected for an impressive lineup of film festivals and won the award for Best Documentary Short at the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival. Other festival appearances include:
- The Edmonton International Film Festival, Out of the Dark: Jaleen Roberts
- Rhode Island International Film Festival, Out of the Dark: Cal Calamia
- Sidewalk Film Festival, Out of the Dark: Cal Calamia
- Hudson Valley Film Fest, Out of the Dark: Cal Calamia
- HollyShorts Film Festival, Out of the Dark: Cal Calamia
- Tribeca Film Festival, Out of the Dark: Cal Calamia
- OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival, Out of the Dark: Cal Calamia
- Richmond International Film Festival, Out of the Dark: Cal Calamia
- DC Shorts International Film Festival, Out of the Dark: Cal Calamia
- Mill Valley Film Festival Screening, Out of the Dark: Cal Calamia
- Montclair Film Festival Screening, Out of the Dark: Cal Calamia
- Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival, Out of the Dark: Cal Calamia
An Olympic Athlete Takes on Depression
A standout in the original trio of Out of the Dark pt. 1, 2021’s An Olympic Athlete Takes on Depression features the personal story of Olympic shot putter Raven Saunders. This award-winning short film (including the International Black Film Festival’s Best Documentary Short award) dives deep into Raven’s childhood trauma, the intensity of her 2016 Olympic experience, and the pitfalls of celebrity that challenged her mental health. After receiving care for depression, Raven spoke out about her struggles and became a leading advocate for mental health dialogue among athletes.
Out of the Dark pt. 1 Trailer
How do you fight an enemy you can’t see?
Premiered in May 2021, Well Beings presents a youth-focused digital series, Out of The Dark. The series follows young people from diverse backgrounds who face the greatest challenge of their life and find strength they never knew they had.
