Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and film subject Bonnie Stohl sit down with TIFF in Studio 9 to discuss the true story of Diana Nyad, and the rewarding challenges of bringing her inspiring story to the screen.

At the age of 60, Nyad (Bening) is frustrated about the way she left her swimming career behind and starts training once again to do the marathon swim she failed 30 years prior. Her best friend, Bonnie Stoll (Foster), thinks it's a little foolish, but has no choice except to jump in as her coach once it becomes clear that Nyad isn’t backing down. When navigator John Bartlett (Rhys Ifans, also at the Festival in Mother Couch) comes on board with the project, they finally have someone to guide her through the shark-infested waters of the Florida Straits. The arduous swim takes a shocking toll on her body, and Nyad’s obsession starts to wear on the team. Through flashbacks, we start to get a peek into her past and the trauma she’s fighting against.

Captured in Studio 9, TIFF's Official Interview Suite, powered by Canon.

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