Seconds Away is a 1-hour, 24-minute US documentary directed by Benjamin Kegan. Completed in 2025, it belongs to the sports-documentary and biographical genres, following a moving, intense story interweaving sport, friendship and resilience.
At the heart of the story is Peter Callahan, a Belgian-American middle-distance runner racing against time to qualify for the Olympic Games. Beside him is Patrick McHugh, his long-standing coach, who is simultaneously facing a cancer diagnosis. The film documents not only Callahan’s sporting preparation and competitions but also the emotional journey shared with his coach at a time of great vulnerability for both.
Peter Callahan appears as an athlete, providing direct testimony of the journey towards Olympic qualification. Scenes alternate spectacular race footage and everyday life, balancing the sporting and human dimensions of the narrative. Through an intimate, authentic visual style, the direction explores what it means to chase a dream, especially when time seems as much an opponent as sporting obstacles.
Seconds Away stands out for the depth with which it examines the athlete-coach relationship, highlighting the meaning of mutual support in a context of fragility. It reflects on sacrifice, commitment and the strength of personal relationships as a force for overcoming difficulties beyond the track.
The documentary was produced by Gustavo Rosa and shot between the United States and Belgium. It is neither a student project nor Benjamin Kegan’s first film; he has already made other documentary and narrative works. The film was completed on 1 March 2025. The premiere date and place, and the distributor’s name, have not been made known.
Film Information
Title: Seconds Away
Original title: Seconds Away
Director: Benjamin Kegan
Production: Gustavo Rosa
Country: United States
Language: English, French
Running time: 84 minutes
Genre: Documentary, biopic
Sport featured: Athletics (middle distance)
Protagonist(s): Peter Callahan, Patrick McHugh
Completion date: 1 March 2025
Premiere: [Not specified]
Distributor: [Not specified]
Shooting format: Digital, 2:39, colour
Director’s first film: No
Student project: No