The Bends

Nominated for

Best Producer

Directed by

Tom Campbell

14' • Australia • 2020

English

A mixed martial arts fighter discovers she’s pregnant in the lead-up to the most important fight of her career, in this AACTA-nominated Australian short film. A docu-drama hybrid propelled by a reticent yet affecting performance from pro-amateur MMA fighter Annie Thatcher, The Bends is an elevated, empathetic portrait of a person accustomed to pushing their body to its limit, but who now must choose between conquering it or keeping it safe for another.