We sit down with filmmaker Elliott Hasler about the making of Vindication Swim, a period sports drama inspired by Mercedes Gleitze—the first British woman to swim the English Channel in 1927. Shot over three years entirely in open water, the film demanded extraordinary perseverance from its cast and crew, with lead actor Kirsten Callaghan performing all her own swims and no visual effects or body doubles in sight.
Elliott shares how the team navigated unpredictable tides, safety challenges, and a micro-budget while maintaining historical authenticity and cinematic scale. From coordinating small, agile crews to rebuilding the film’s entire soundscape in post, Vindication Swim became a testament in indie filmmaking ingenuity. Despite its modest resources, the film went on to play in over 300 cinemas for 18 weeks and break into the UK box office top 20.
Elliott reflects on the resilience, creativity, and community spirit that powered the project—and how telling real stories of perseverance mirrors his own journey as a filmmaker. Vindication Swim opens in New York City on October 17, followed by select U.S. screenings and a digital release in November.
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