Brazilian surfer Maya Gabeira is set to make a splash at DOC NYC. Stephanie Johnes’ doc about the trailblazer, “Maya and the Wave,” will open the 13th edition of the festival. A press release announced the news.
Described by Johnes as “an empathetic portrait of a woman fighting to achieve her dream while struggling against gender bias,” the film sees Gabeira battling injuries and sexism to make her mark on the world of big wave surfing. “Maya and the Wave” is making its U.S. premiere at the festival. Johnes’ directorial debut, “Doubletime,” premiered at SXSW. The doc follows two teams preparing for the Double Dutch world championship.
This year’s DOC NYC lineup includes two Centerpiece screenings: Oscar winner Barbara Kopple’s “Gumbo Coalition” and Emmy nominee Dawn Porter’s “Cirque Du Soleil: Without a Net.” The former is a portrait of two contemporary civil rights leaders, and the latter offers a look inside the iconic circus.
DOC NYC runs from November 9-27.
