The Norwegian feature documentary FIGHTER by Sunniva Sundby and Mari Bakke Riise has been selected for NORDIC:DOX Competition at the prestigious international documentary film festival CPH:DOX, where it will celebrate its world premiere.
Further, the three-part mini series version of the documentary has been officially selected for the Special Screenings section at Series Mania just today.
13 February, Copenhagen – We are delighted to announce that the captivating and heart-gripping feature documentary FIGHTER by Sunniva Sundby and Mari Bakke Riise has been officially selected to compete in the NORDIC:DOX section at the prestigious documentary festival CPH:DOX. The feature will celebrate its world premiere during the festival that takes place between 19-30 March.
The feature has aroused immense festival interest already, marking the strong and artistic appeal of the film. Besides today’s selection for CPH:DOX, the feature has also been invited for HUMAN International Documentary Film Festival 2025 in Norway, where it will have its local premiere.
With the documentary also being available as a three-part mini series, we are equally as proud to announce that the series version has been selected for the prestigious Series Mania, where it will screen in the Special Screenings section.
Managing Director of TrustNordisk, Susan Wendt, comments on the selections:
‘We are absolutely thrilled that FIGHTER has been selected for both CPH:DOX and Series Mania. To me, it underscores the documentary’s remarkable quality and compelling storytelling, demonstrating its ability to captivate audiences worldwide.’
The documentary follows the journey of GK, an MMA fighter whose life takes a dramatic turn when a severe diving accident leaves him paralyzed. Determined to reclaim his mobility, he sets himself a two-year deadline to walk again – believing that if he cannot, life is no longer worth living.
The documentary is directed and written by Sunniva Sundby, renowned for her 2020 short film GREETING FROM MYANMAR, and Mari Bakke Riise, best known for her documentary short KAYAYO – THE LIVING SHOPPING BASKETS, which was shortlisted for the Academy Awards® for Best Documentary Short in 2017.
Synopsis:
GK, a 30-year-old MMA-fighter, whose whole identity was built on his physicality, faces a life-altering moment after a split-second decision to dive headfirst into the ocean. When told to expect a life in a wheelchair he gives himself two years to get back on his feet - or else he doesn’t want to live. This leads him down a rabbit hole of alternative treatments that sells hope, while the fear of his already fragile relationship ending pushes him to figure out who he really is. He seeks answers in the deep- seated childhood traumas that had pushed him to extreme, self-destructive physical limits. Amidst the darkness, he embarks on an inspiring journey of transformation proving that life’s worth goes far beyond physical abilities.
FIGHTER is directed and written by Sunniva Sundby and Mari Bakke Riise, produced by Mari Bakke Riise and Silje Evensmo Jacobsen for A5 film. International sales handled by TrustNordisk.
