Running Free: Children's Independent Mobility

We are facing a physical inactivity crisis among children and youth. One important factor explaining this crisis is the dramatic decline in the independent mobility of children. Independent mobility refers to a child’s freedom to travel and play independently in their neighbourhood. Told through the eyes of three families, this documentary explores the concept of children’s independent mobility, the benefits for children’s mental health and wellbeing in being independently mobile, and challenges viewers to consider solutions to the problem of declining independent mobility of children and youth today.

  • Gordon Koch
    Writer
  • Donna Gall
    Director
  • Guy Faulkner
    Producer
  • Dr. Mariana Brussoni
    Content Experts
    Associate Professor, The University of British Columbia
  • Dr. Guy Faulkner
    Content Experts
    CIHR-PHAC Chair in Applied Public Health, The University of British Columbia
  • Negin Riazi
    Content Experts
    PhD Candidate, The University of British Columbia
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    26 minutes 25 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 9, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Donna Gall

Donna is a Gemini Award winning writer, director and producer with over twenty years in documentary film, television and web series. Credits include the feature length documentaries Play Fair (www.playfair.tv) for Sportsnet and Majumder Manor, Every Word Is Absolutely True for HBO and factual series Compete to Eat, Majumder Manor, Ballet Girls, Secret World of Gardens, Great Canadian Parks, Rivers & Lakes and three seasons of the award-winning documentary series Recreating Eden. In 2017, Donna produced her first feature, Snowmance, a Christmas romance with LA- based Mar Vista Entertainment. Currently completing her Ph.D. in Communication and Culture at Ryerson University, Donna has found her niche helping academics present their research findings in documentary form.

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Director Statement

As a parent myself, the subject of this film has special relevance. I wanted to highlight concerns around children and independent mobility while making sure to not include any parent-blaming rhetoric. I wanted to hear from real parents who grapple with these concerns, to inform the audience about the importance of independent mobility for children and to show programs and initiatives that offer support.