Learning to Fly (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Learning to Fly follows photographer and former competitive runner Aisha McAdams as she documents elite ultra trailrunners at demanding mountain races, including the Western States Endurance Run and Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc. The documentary features athletes such as Jim Walmsley and Eszter Csillag.

Learning to Fly is a 2026 documentary directed by Max Lowe. The film follows Aisha McAdams, a former competitive runner who becomes a photographer documenting the triumphs and struggles of elite ultra trailrunners.

Its subjects include Jim Walmsley, Eszter Csillag and Rod Farvard, with the story set around major endurance races in California and the French Alps. The documentary focuses on athletes covering 100 miles of mountain trails while gaining thousands of vertical feet.

Learning to Fly movie details

Story without spoilers

Aisha McAdams once competed as a runner and now works behind the camera as a photographer. In Learning to Fly, she travels to document ultra trailrunners as they prepare for and take on some of the sport’s most demanding races.

The film visits the Western States Endurance Run in the mountains of eastern California and the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in the French Alps. Along the way, it profiles athletes including Jim Walmsley and Eszter Csillag, presenting both the achievements and difficulties involved in sustaining high intensity across 100 miles of mountainous terrain.

What to expect

As a documentary centered on ultra trailrunning, Learning to Fly is structured around real athletes, endurance competition and demanding natural environments. Its premise combines McAdams’s perspective as a former competitive runner and photographer with coverage of established mountain races.

The supplied synopsis points to a film concerned with both accomplishment and struggle rather than competition alone. Viewers can expect its subject matter to include long-distance running, steep elevation gains and the physical challenge of traversing mountain trails over 100 miles.

Cast and creative team

Max Lowe directs Learning to Fly. Aisha McAdams appears as herself, alongside Jim Walmsley, Rod Farvard and Eszter Csillag, who also appear as themselves. No writers are listed in the supplied credits.

• Aisha McAdams as Self
• Jim Walmsley as Self
• Rod Farvard as Self
• Eszter Csillag as Self

Release and production context

Learning to Fly is listed as a 2026 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 43 minutes. Its release date is August 21, 2026. The production countries are the United States of America, France, Switzerland, Italy, China and Hong Kong, and the spoken language is English. The listed production companies are Unreasonable Studios and Wild State.

Production companies: Unreasonable Studios, Wild State

Movies Dock view

With its focus on elite ultra trailrunners and races spanning California and the French Alps, Learning to Fly offers a documentary portrait of one of endurance sport’s most demanding disciplines. Its combination of athlete profiles and mountain-race settings gives the film a clear, focused subject.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb