The New York City Premiere of the ultra-running documentary ‘Learning to Fly‘ brought athletes and creatives together for an inspiring rooftop screening.
Set against the iconic New York City skyline, guests gathered on a stunning rooftop at Pier 57 to celebrate the premiere of Learning to Fly, directed by Max Lowe alongside Academy Award-winning producer Evan Hayes. The documentary dives deep into the complex emotional landscape of extreme athletes, with a special focus on ultra-runners. Attendees were able to take photos against backdrops and mingle over pre-screening refreshments. As everyone found their seats in front of the big screen, photographer and former ultra-runner Aisha McAdams took the floor. She expressed her gratitude to the crowd, radiating confidence in both her latest project and the undeniable resilience of athletes everywhere.
New York, New York – 8/18/26 – New York Premiere of Unreasonable Studios’ “Learning To Fly”
HOTO by: Marion Curtis / StarPix for Unreasonable Studios
As a former athlete myself, I particularly connected with this film because of the amount of emotional intelligence and empathy Aisha shows toward herself and the runners. She captures the internal battle athletes face, constantly questioning why they subject themselves to such extreme physical limits just to push through them. While the film focuses heavily on documenting these runners, the lens eventually turns inward, challenging Aisha’s own inner athlete and asking if she can still “fly”. “Running is your makeup,” her dad reminds her near the film’s climax, sparking a full-circle moment in which Aisha returns to her roots to run her first ultra race.
