A splashy look at a marginal sport: U.S.A.’s top synchronized swimmers endure rigorous training and overcome unthinkable obstacles to compete for Olympic glory.
Barry Hampe, author of Making Documentary Films and Videos"An all-around excellent film.”
Awards
Honorable Mention – 2008 Columbus International Film & Video Festival Chris Award
Jury Award for Best Feature Film – 2009 Kansas City Film Festival
2009 Billie Award for Journalism – Women’s Sports Foundation
Best Documentary Director – 2010 NY International Independent Film & Video Festival
Best Director – 2012 International Aquatic History and Film Festival
Juried Screenings
2008 Slamdance Film Festival
2008 SILVERDOCS: AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary
2008 Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
2008 Columbus International Film & Video Festival Chris Award
2008 Portland Womens’ Film Festival
2008 Waterfront Film Festival
2008 Philadelphia Independent Film Festival
2008 New Orleans Film Festival
7th San Francisco Documentary Festival @ Roxie Cinema
2009 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival – Missoula, Montana
2009 Tiburon International Film Festival – Tiburon, CA
2009 Las Vegas International Film Festival – Las Vegas, NV
2009 Kansas City Film Festival – Kansas, MO
2009 Heartland Film Festival – Indianapolis, Indiana
2010 NY International Independent Film & Video Festival in L.A.
2012 International Aquatic History and Film Festival
Curated, Community, and Conference Screenings
2008 Synchronized Swimming Esynchro Age Group Championships
2008 Synchronized Swimming National Championships
McCarren Park Pool – Outdoor Screening (in an old pool!) – Brooklyn, NY – August 18th, 2008
2009 Documentary Fortnight Series – Museum of Modern Art – NY, NY
The Tank – NYC – June 2009
NewFilmmakers Series – Anthology Film Archives – NYC – March 2010
Esynchro Age Group National Championships – June 2011
USA Synchro Masters Nationals – Roseville, CA – Oct 2011
First National Conference on Girls and Women in Sport and Physical Activity – Greensboro, NC – October 2011
Press
“7 cool film apps for the iPhone and iPad.” BeyondTheBoxOffice.com (6/6/11)
Sync or Swim featured on the BlogHer Sports.com. (5/9/11)
“Cool Stuff out on DVD Today.” USA Today (5/3/11)
Nick Jr. review gives Sync or Swim a 10! (5/3/11)
Bust Magazine. “The Guide: Movies” October/November 2008 by Errin Donahue.
The Independent Magazine. “Anatomy of a Film.” September 18, 2008. By Fernanada Rossi.
National Public Radio (NPR): “Only A Game” (sports radio show). August 23, 2008. By Jon Kalish. Director Furjanic interviewed, Sync or Swim profiled.
88.3 FM WBGO Journal. August 23, 2008. By Jon Kalish. Cheryl interviewed and Sync or Swim profiled (shorter version of “Only a Game” story).
Rocketboom (daily weblog with Joanne Colan). August 20, 2008. Director Cheryl Furjanic interviewed and Sync or Swim profiled.
New York Times. “Urban Eye: The Best of New York Today.” August 18, 2008.
Sync or Swim McCarren Park Pool screening profiled.
amNewYork “The haps around town today…“ August 18, 2008.
NY Post – Agenda/Pulse section. “Make an Olympic splash.” August 17, 2008. Sync or Swim chosen as Monday August 18th’s must see event. By Laura Vogel.
TakePart.com. “Synchronized Swimming Gets Olympic Treatment in Sync or Swim.” August 14, 2008. By Gina Telaroli.
Flavorpill (NYC cultural events guide). “Film: Documentary: Sync or Swim.” Sync or Swim McCarren Park Pool screening a must-see event of the week. August 12, 2008. By Gerry Mak.
Waterfront Film Festival co-founder Kori Eldean names Sync or Swim as one of her five festival favorites. June 12, 2008.
Plumb TV / DocStock, 2007 – Episode 7 (VIDEO) The very best documentaries-in-progress, along with smart, funny, and pointed interviews with the filmmakers who make them. Cheryl Furjanic featured.
The Independent Magazine. “A captivating documentary makes it through some deep waters.” By Cheryl Furjanic. March 2005.
Other projects
Back on Board: Greg Louganis
(Documentary feature, 86 minutes, 2015)
Back on Board: Greg Louganis is an intimate portrait of the public triumphs and private struggles of trailblazing openly gay athlete Greg Louganis. A refreshingly candid documentary about this four-time Olympic champion, Back on Board follows Louganis for three years as he struggles with financial security and reunites with the sport he once dominated but did not feel welcome in. The threat of losing his house during the recent financial crisis forces Louganis to re-evaluate the choices, relationships, and missed opportunities of his career.
A Good Uplift
(Documentary short, 13 minutes, 2003)
A light-hearted glimpse into a Lower East Side lingerie shop, where owner and Jewish grandmother, Magda, embraces and enhances women of all shapes and sizes in pursuit of the prefect bra. Behold as Orthodox Jewish Culture meets – and embraces – modern day struggles with sexuality, body image and women’s roles.