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Running Away to the Circus - s'enfuir au cirque

Running Away to the Circus offers an intimate portrayal of a contortion artist's unique journey. Marina Cherry left her small hometown of Missoula, Montana at age 16, and studied contortion at the prestigious École Nationale de Cirque in Montreal, despite having no formal circus training.
The film follows Marina and her fellow artists during the final two weeks of preparation for the opening night of their new show in Belgium. While Marina's story is unique, it will resonate with anyone who has made a bold decision to pursue their dreams. The documentary touches on the sacrifices, drive, and uncertainty that come with choosing a life less ordinary.

The film’s style blends vérité realism with poetic storytelling. It draws inspiration from Marina’s haunting and unconventional movements as a contortionist. The aesthetic subtly nods to classic horror cinema, which enhances the physical and emotional tension of her journey.

  • Courtney Brooke Carl
    Producer/Director
  • Josh Stein
    Editor
    Beef, Theatre Camp, After Party
  • Kai Krause
    Colorist
    Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West, Black Beauty, The Lamb
  • Federica Fortunato
    Director of Photography
  • Joey Paul
    Audio Engineer
    The Last Rampage, Dirty Lies
  • Micheal Tilly
    Sound Mixer
  • Xaiver Portillo
    Camera Operator
    Therapy
  • Noah James Rubin
    Music Composer
  • Marina Cherry
    Key Cast
  • Elisa Cherry
    Key Cast
  • Anke Fiévez
    Key Cast
  • Aurélien Oudot
    Key Cast
  • Philippe Vande Weghe
    Key Cast
  • Corentin Bizot
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    18 minutes 19 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 1, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    Belgium
  • Language:
    English, French
  • Shooting Format:
    RED Raw, 8mm Film
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography

Courtney is a producer and director based in Los Angeles. She began her career in commercial and branded content. Over the years, she has directed numerous docu-style media spots for brands across the globe. This, however, marks her debut as an independent filmmaker.

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Director Statement

After five years of working on formulaic docuseries for a mega-media company, I felt ready to create something completely my own. With a small budget, I pulled together a team of professionals I'd met over the years in media production and flew to Belgium to document the life of my childhood friend, Marina, a traveling circus artist. In the months leading up to filming, I got to re-know Marina, we spent hours on FaceTime, and I learned about her struggles—relationships, an eating disorder, money problems, and the realities of living as a nomad. We spent two weeks in Brussels, reconnecting and capturing her journey. While her path as a circus artist is unique, I believe we all can relate to the universal experience of chasing a dream and facing the hurdles along the way. This film, which started as a deeply personal story, took on a life of its own.