Starting Line: The Team Joshua Story (2026): Cast, Story and

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Starting Line: The Team Joshua Story is a Canadian documentary about Michelle Gentis and her son Josh, whose shared experience in competitive marathon running becomes a way to confront exclusion, disability and life’s obstacles together.

Starting Line: The Team Joshua Story follows Michelle Gentis, a single mother who initially turned to running as a form of therapy. Her personal outlet takes on a larger purpose as she begins racing with her son, Josh, who lives with a rare brain disorder and significant physical disabilities.

The documentary centers on their shared path through competitive marathon running and the barriers Josh encounters as he grows older. Their races offer a framework for a story about family, access and finding a stronger sense of community through participation.

Starting Line: The Team Joshua Story movie details

Story without spoilers

Michelle Gentis’s running begins as a way to cope with the demands of single motherhood. As her son Josh grows up, however, he faces increasing exclusion from opportunities and the wider community because of his rare brain disorder and significant physical disabilities.

Racing together with Josh in his wheelchair opens a new direction for both of them. The film follows how this shared activity develops into an extraordinary journey in competitive marathon running, with each race connected to the broader challenge of making space for Josh and transforming their lives together.

What to expect

As a documentary, the film is built around the real-life experiences of Michelle Gentis and Josh Gentis Hall. Its central focus is their mother-and-son partnership, wheelchair marathon racing and the barriers Josh faces while seeking fuller participation in community life.

The premise suggests an intimate, human-scale sports story rather than a fictional competition drama. The supplied synopsis also points to themes of disability, family support, resilience and inclusion, while keeping the emphasis on the relationship and experiences of the people at its center.

Cast and creative team

Michelle Gentis and Josh Gentis Hall are the featured people in the film. Josh Richardson directs and shares writing credits with Johanna Richardson, Josh Huculiak and Shaelin Fritzsch.

• Michelle Gentis
• Josh Gentis Hall

Release and production context

Starting Line: The Team Joshua Story is a 2026 documentary from Canada, spoken in English. It is listed as released on August 14, 2026. The listed production companies are Garden Film Studio and CBC. No runtime is supplied.

Production companies: Garden Film Studio, CBC

Movies Dock view

Starting Line: The Team Joshua Story presents marathon running as both a shared activity and a response to the obstacles facing Josh and his mother. Its documentary premise places their relationship, disability inclusion and community participation at the heart of the film.

Film data:
TMDB