The Launch
May 31, 2023
A film about love, fate, death, grief, and an epic journey. The Launch is a documentary about Ellen "Magellan" Falterman, and her quest to become the first person to circumnavigate the planet on a rowboat. Post-film Q&A with Ellen Magellan and director Hernán Ballard.
SIFF year-round passes and vouchers are not valid for this screening.
In his debut feature documentary, Hernán Ballard documents the triumph and tragedy of a Texas expedition, and a Missouri love story. The Launch covers the preparation and backstory behind Ellen Magellan's quest to become the first person to complete a circumnavigation of the planet entirely on an ocean rowboat. The story also prominently features the story of Ellen's fiancé and Washington, Missouri native Aaron Duenke, who disappeared on the Missouri river in late 2022. A tribute to rivers, oceans, and the people who traverse them, it is our hope that this film paints a beautiful portrait of those who dare to embark on adventures of the water and the heart.
A merch table will be available at the screening for anyone who wishes to donate to the expedition.
- Director: Hernán Ballard
- Country: USA
- Year: 2023
- Running Time: 101 min.
- Language: English