Falling is Flying is a 3-minute and 18-second Italian short film, written and directed by Aksinja Bellone and completed in November 2024. Shot in Italy, it was produced by Lara Calligaro and stars Eliza Cosmina Vasilica and Howard Thomas Ray.
The short film's central theme is tennis, told through a dimension extending beyond the court. Ready to enter the court for a match, the protagonist must face not only her sporting opponent but, above all, an inner conflict that calls her concentration and confidence into question.
The figures involved are the tennis player, portrayed by Eliza Cosmina Vasilica, and the coach/preacher, played by Howard Thomas Ray. Rather than dwelling on tennis's technical aspect, the narrative stages the emotional and psychological experience of someone living under competitive pressure and confronting her fears.
The message the film seeks to convey is linked to resilience: true victory lies not only in sporting results, but in the ability to overcome one's inner limits and regain strength and determination even in moments of crisis.
From a production perspective, Falling is Flying is neither a student project nor the director's debut. It was made professionally, in Arri Mini digital format with a 16:9 colour aspect ratio.
The short was completed on 7 November 2024 and is an example of sports cinema able to unite the language of the body and sport with the representation of a universal inner challenge.
Film Information
Title: Falling is Flying
Original title: Falling is Flying
Direction: Aksinja Bellone
Production: Lara Calligaro
Country: Italy
Language: English
Running time: 3 minutes and 18 seconds
Genre: Short film
Sport featured: Tennis
Main subject(s): Eliza Cosmina Vasilica, Howard Thomas Ray
Completion date: 7 November 2024
Premiere: [Not specified]
Distributor: [Not specified]
Shooting format: Arri Mini digital, 16:9, colour
Director's first film: No
Student project: No