The Goldfish Club (2025) Short Film by Maxwell Henderson
Witness the untold story. The Goldfish Club (2025) is a powerful documentary short film by Maxwell Henderson. A tale of survival & hope. Watch now.
✈️ The Goldfish Club (2025) — Documentary Short Film by Maxwell Henderson
Some stories are born in the skies, but live in the hearts of those who dare to return. The Goldfish Club, directed by Maxwell Henderson, is a 23‑minute documentary short that captures the fragile courage of three aerial performers in England’s Cotswolds. After a traumatic airshow incident, they must decide whether to face their fears and reclaim the joy of flight.
Festival Highlights: SXSW 2025 World Premiere · Brooklyn Film Festival East Coast Premiere
Watch the short:
📖 Story in Brief
The film documents the aftermath of a traumatic air display accident.
The Incident: What began as a fairytale performance turned into a nightmare, leaving scars both physical and psychological.
The Survivors: Two wingwalkers and their pilot — David, Emma, and Kirsten — grapple with fear, memory, and the pressure of returning to the skies.
The Struggle: In a profession where hesitation can be fatal, they must rebuild trust in themselves and each other.
The Bond: Their shared trauma becomes the glue that holds them together, forming a “club” defined not by victory, but by survival.
🎨 Creative DNA & Style
Shot on 16mm film: Grainy textures give the documentary a timeless, almost archival feel.
Intimate framing: Close‑ups capture trembling hands, nervous glances, and quiet moments of reflection.
Atmospheric pacing: Alternates between adrenaline‑charged flight sequences and contemplative daily life.
Symbolism: The “Goldfish Club” — historically a term for airmen who survived ditching into water — becomes a metaphor for resilience after disaster.
🌟 Themes & Resonance
Resilience in performance: How artists rebuild after trauma.
Trust & teamwork: The invisible bond between wingwalkers and pilots.
Fear vs. joy: The tension between danger and the thrill of flight.
Community of survivors: Turning shared pain into shared strength.
✅ Pros & ❌ Cons
Pros
🎯 Raw authenticity: Real performers telling their own story.
🎥 Cinematic craft: 16mm visuals elevate the intimacy.
🏆 Festival recognition: SXSW and Brooklyn Film Festival premieres.
Cons
⏳ Short runtime: Leaves you wanting more backstory on each performer.
🌀 Emotional heaviness: The trauma focus may feel intense for casual viewers.
💡 Humanized Takeaway
The Goldfish Club is less about spectacle than survival. Henderson shows us that courage isn’t the absence of fear — it’s the decision to climb back onto the wing, to trust the sky again, and to find joy in the very place where pain was born. It’s a film that reminds us that resilience is its own kind of artistry.
🔍 Find More & Watch
AfterImage Film Festival listing — SXSW premiere announcement