Let me first extend a huge “thanks” to everyone who backed this project on Kickstarter. Together with some off-site fundraising, you all trusted my vision enough to build a $40,000 budget. This film would quite simply not have happened without you.

It also wouldn’t have happened without Spin Ultimate. They make snappy, comfy clothing and you should check out their stuff.

My favorite stories are about people going for it; deciding to pursue a dream even though there are tons of reasons not to do so and only a few reasons to do so. That's why I'm fascinated by the Austin Torch; Austin Texas's first professional women's/non-binary Ultimate frisbee team and a member of the Premier Ultimate League (PUL), formed in 2018 and 2019, respectively. 

The film tells the story of the Torch from its inception in 2018 through its  2022 season. Along the way we follow the personalities behind the 2022 team and capture the moments of inspiration, exasperation, conflict, glory, and humor that accompany the journey of trying to turn a pro sports team dream into a sustainable reality.

Any good documentary film engages an audience broader than the enthusiasts of its subject matter. As such, my goal was to make Torched an entertaining and poignant watch for people completely unfamiliar with the sport of Ultimate, and even for people who care not at all about sports. Torched is a human interest film about passionate people pursuing a dream.

I think we can all agree that female and non-binary athletes and sports teams don't get nearly enough coverage or attention. Though women make up roughly 40% of all participants in sports, they only receive around 4% of sports media coverage. The barrier to entry into the public's consciousness is formidable, and the battle for "legitimacy" usually requires bold, tireless efforts on the part of pioneers like the Austin Torch.