Through the Storm (2024) A compelling documentary short film by Fritz Bitsoie & Charles Frank. Explore this powerful new work.
🏈 Through the Storm (2024) — Documentary Short Film by Fritz Bitsoie & Charles Frank
Some teams measure success in wins. Others measure it in survival. Through the Storm follows the Red Lake Nation (Ojibwe) high school football team through their 2023 season — a year defined not by trophies, but by grit, community, and the stubborn refusal to let the lights go out on a program that’s been losing for two decades.
Directed by Fritz Bitsoie and Charles Frank, this 22‑minute short is as much about identity and resilience as it is about football.
🧭 Overview
- Genre: Documentary / Short / Sports / Human Interest
- Directors: Fritz Bitsoie · Charles Frank 🎬
- Producer: Emma Hsu Jackson
- Music: Christopher Bear 🎼
- Production Companies: Voyager · Gnarly Bay Productions
- Runtime: 22 minutes
- Country: United States 🇺🇸
- Language: English
- Budget: Estimated $110,000 💵
- Release Date: November 12, 2024 — NFL Network broadcast premiere
- Awards: 2 wins & 6 nominations (festival circuit)
Watch full short:
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2025 Sports Emmys ‘Best Short Documentary‘ Nominee
- WINNER – Artistic Vision Award, Big Sky Documentary Festival
- WINNER – Special Jury Award – Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival
Best Short Doc Finalist – AmDocs Official Selection
- Official Selection – DOC NYC
- Official Selection – Camden International Film Festival
- Official Selection – Uninterrupted Film Festival (powered by Tribeca)
- Official Selection – Indy Shorts International Film Festival
- Official Selection – BlackStar Film Festival
- Official Selection – Crested Butte Film Festival
- Official Selection – Fresh Coast Film Festival
- Official Selection – Santa Fe International Film Festival
- Official Selection – Centre Film Festival
- Official Selection – BrandStorytelling
📖 Story in Brief
The Red Lake Warriors are more than a football team — they’re a lifeline for a small Ojibwe community in northern Minnesota.
- The Challenge: Interest in the sport is dwindling, the roster is thin, and the team hasn’t had a winning season in over 20 years3.
- The Coach: A determined leader refuses to let the program die, seeing football as a way to keep kids engaged, disciplined, and proud of where they come from.
- The Players: Each young athlete carries personal battles — grief, family struggles, and the weight of representing their Nation.
- The Season: Wins are rare, but moments of triumph come in other forms: a perfect tackle, a touchdown after weeks of practice, a bus ride filled with laughter.
- The Storm: The title becomes a metaphor — for the literal weather they play through, the losing streak they endure, and the personal hardships they face together.
🎨 Creative DNA & Style
- Cinematic sports doc: Sweeping drone shots of the reservation, slow‑motion plays under Friday night lights, and intimate locker‑room moments.
- Cultural grounding: The film weaves in Ojibwe identity — from language and symbols to the way the community rallies around the team.
- Emotional pacing: Alternates between high‑energy game sequences and quiet, reflective interviews.
- Score as heartbeat: Christopher Bear’s music blends indie warmth with cinematic swells, underscoring both grit and grace.
🌟 Themes & Resonance
- Resilience: How a team keeps showing up despite the scoreboard.
- Community pride: Football as a gathering point for the Red Lake Nation.
- Youth empowerment: Sports as a tool for building confidence and leadership.
- Cultural continuity: Preserving identity through shared experiences.
✅ Pros & ❌ Cons
Pros
- 🎯 Heart over hype: Focuses on people, not just plays.
- 🏆 Festival‑tested: Critical and audience acclaim.
- 🎥 Visual storytelling: Balances grit with beauty.
Cons
- ⏳ Short runtime: Leaves you wanting more of the players’ personal stories.
- 🌀 Bittersweet tone: Those seeking a triumphant sports ending may find the realism sobering.
💡 Humanized Takeaway
Through the Storm 2024 short film isn’t about chasing a championship — it’s about chasing purpose. Bitsoie and Frank capture the way a struggling football program can still be a source of hope, discipline, and belonging. For the Red Lake Warriors, every game is a stand against giving up, and every yard gained is a victory that can’t be measured on a scoreboard.
🔍 Find More & Watch
- IMDb page for Through the Storm — full cast, crew, and production details
- GQ Sports feature & video — behind‑the‑scenes look at the team’s journey
- NFL Network premiere announcement — broadcast details and Nike sponsorship