ADAPTED
Adapted is an inspiring adventure documentary that follows the journeys of three outdoor enthusiasts who, after sustaining traumatic spinal cord injuries, are determined to reclaim their passion for nature in bold new ways. Bound to wheelchairs but driven by unbreakable willpower, each individual embarks on a daring adventure to conquer the challenges of the wild and push the boundaries of what’s possible.
Anna Soens aims to become the first paraplegic athlete to summit Mt. Baker, a towering 10,781-foot glaciated volcano in Washington State. Josh Hancock leads a custom adaptive raft down the wild, scenic Salmon River in Idaho. Danielle Doelling takes on the ultimate test of endurance, attempting to hand-cycle 87 miles across the rugged terrain of the White Rim Trail, in the Canyonlands National Park, Utah.
While the pursuit of adventure is their shared goal, each of their stories reveals a deeper journey—one of resilience, self-discovery, and post-traumatic growth. Through moments of triumph and challenge, Adapted celebrates the incredible capacity of the human spirit to find purpose and forge new horizons, even after life-altering setbacks.
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Paul BikisDirector
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Paul BikisProducer
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Ghislaine CouvillatProducerSavage Waters
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Paul BikisEditors
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Hans RosenwinkelEditors
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Josh HancockKey Cast
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Anna SoensKey Cast
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Danielle DoellingKey Cast
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Project Type:Documentary
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Runtime:1 hour 23 minutes
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Country of Origin:United States, United States
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Country of Filming:United States, United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:1.89:1
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
Paul Bikis is an award-winning filmmaker focused on sharing heartfelt stories that leave a lasting impact. Bikis grew up surrounded by nature in Durango, Colorado. His journey into filmmaking began in middle school when he started documenting friends' skiing and mountain biking adventures with his first Panasonic cassette camera. These early projects ignited Bikis’ passion for storytelling through film, setting the stage for future endeavors
Bikis went on to study visual journalism at Western Washington University where he learned about the art of storytelling and how to conduct interviews. Bikis’ filmmaking career took its most transformative turn when he moved back home to assist with his mother's care. This experience profoundly impacted him. The loss of Bikis’ mother not only reshaped his personal life, but fundamentally influenced his approach to storytelling.
Drawing on his own journey of grief and resilience, Bikis approaches stories with an open heart. This allows him to connect with his subjects on a deeper level and share their stories with authenticity and empathy.
ADAPTED is his first feature-length film.
Creating ADAPTED has been a challenging seven-year journey which began with the transformation I saw in my own mother after she entered hospice. Witnessing the degenerative aspects of her terminal illness was devastating, but I saw fundamental changes in her demeanor during the times she could be outside.
I was 24 when I moved back to my childhood home to assist with my mom’s caregiving. She could not do anything on her own, but together we set goals, getting her back on a bike and even on skis through an adaptive sports program. Seeing how much these adventures in nature improved her well being - despite her terminal illness - was what motivated me to start making this film.
It was while I was taking care of her that I met Michael “Hawkeye” Johnson, founder of the GoHawkeye Foundation, and he introduced me to Josh, Anna, and Danielle, all of whom he had fundraised for to help pay for their adaptive sports equipment. As I learned about their stories, I was able to draw parallels between their experiences and my mom’s. They all had a common thread - demonstrating how a renewed connection to wild spaces can give someone a new lease on life.
In filming ADAPTED, my goal was not just to portray the lengths that people will go to get outside, but also to remind a broad audience how important a connection with nature is to our humanity. I worked closely with the cast members to tell a story that was adventurous and also reflected the realities of their day to day life. I hope that this film will show people new to paralysis what’s possible and inspire people of all abilities to get outside.