When Hope Breaks Through
Now Available on SurvivorNet.TV and PBS
‘When Hope Breaks Through’ by Director Matthew Wagner is the inspiring story of Mike Shoreman, who was diagnosed with a neurological condition that left him paralyzed, with vertigo, hearing loss and vision challenges, ultimately leading to depression and a mental health breakdown. The film explores the mental health crisis and our relationships with our own mental health as it immerses the audience in Mike’s epic five crossings of the Great Lakes, encompassing over 300 kilometers of open water paddling with his dedicated crossings team. Together these strangers come together and form an inseparable bond as they face and conquer obstacles from boats breaking down, medical emergencies to hallucinations and everything in between, featuring the country’s leading mental health experts.
Accolades
2020- Winner, Speaker Slam: North America’s Largest Inspirational Speech Competition
2020- International Stand Up Paddleboarding Man of the Year, SUP Connect
2022- Inducted, Diversability, D30 International Disability Impact List
2022- Hansard, Ontario Legislative Assembly of Ontario
2022- Hansard, House of Commons
2022- Mark Starzynski Mental Health Leadership Award Recipient, Mood Disorder Society of Canada
2022- Recognized by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
2023- Honorary Diploma Recipient, Loyalist College
2023- Official Selection, ‘When Hope Breaks Through’, Docs Without Borders International Film Festival
2023- Nominee, Ontario Premier’s Awards
2023- Award-Winner, Best Feature Documentary, Montreal International Film Festival
2023- Award-Winner, Best Original Score, Montreal International Film Festival
2023- Award-Winner, Best Feature Documentary, Grand Rapids Film Festival
2023- Award-Winner, Best Feature Documentary, Canadian Cinematography Awards
2023- Award-Winner, Best Feature Documentary, New York International Film Awards
2023- Award-Winner, Most Inspiring Film Award, 15th Annual Awareness Film Festival
2023- Award-Winner, Best Feature Documentary, Comm Film Festival
2023- Award-Winner, Best Director, Cannes World Film Festival
2023- Award-Winner, Best Director, Crowne International Film Festival
2023- Award-Winner, Best Feature Documentary, WaterWalker Film Festival
2023- Award-Winner, Best Feature Documentary, Documentaries Without Borders Film Festival
2023- Official Selection, Canberra International Mental Health Film Festival
2023- Official Selection, Mental Filmness
2023- Official Selection, Rhode Island International Film Festival
2023- Official Selection, 38th Annual Boston Film Festival
2023- Award-Winner, Best Feature Documentary, Central Alberta Film Festival
2023- Official Selection, New Westminster International Film Festival
2023- Official Selection, Durham Region International Film Festival
2023- Official Selection, 18th Annual Hamilton Film Festival
2023- Official Selection, Fresh Coast Film Festival
2023- Official Selection,Whistler International Film Festival
2023- Official Selection, Soo Film Festival
2023- Official Selection, North Carolina Film Festival
2023- Official Selection, Parry Sound International Film Festival
Trailer
When Hope Breaks Through
Directed by Matthew Wagner Films
Cinematography: Matthew Wagner, Joe Matteson, Andrew Sorlie
Runtime: 90m Canada/2023
Release Date: September 2023
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