STILL PUSHING: A SKATEBOARDERS PUSH THROUGH TIME, 17min., USA
Directed by Stan Nalewski
Still Pushing is a nostalgic skateboarding documentary that takes viewers on a thrilling ride through the lives of a tight-knit group of skaters who called Roselle Skatepark home for more than a decade. Blending the heartwarming camaraderie of "The Sandlot" with the wild antics of "Jackass," this film revisits the golden days of youth filled with hijinks, fun, and unforgettable memories. Through a blend of old and new footage, "Still Pushing" explores Roselle Skatepark as a cherished third space where lifelong friendships were forged and adventures unfolded, capturing the essence of skate culture and the passage of time.

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Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
Being in a new stage of life and looking back on the past really influenced the making of this film. Wanting to make a skateboarding film that not only skaters could relate to and enjoy was at the core of it all.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you
to make this film?
About a year.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
Nostalgia + Heart

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
The two biggest obstacles were that the film couldn't happen until enough time had passed to both see the evolution of these people and places. And the other obstacle was making a skateboarding film that people who never skateboarded before or had any interest in it could also appreciate and enjoy.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking
about your film in the feedback video?
It was really powerful to hear just how much it connected to them all. I could tell that everyone watched the film and had a critical eye to it. So hearing them all talk with such specificity to moments they loved or how the overarching themes resonated with them, or how they related it to something in their lives that hit close to home was truly special.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
The winter of 2023 I knew I wanted to make a film about skateboarding. Initially it was just going to be a short 1-2 minute video for the internet, but after looking through the archive of footage I still had I knew there was a much bigger story here.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
Fittingly, I think skate videos growing up are some of my most watched films ever. Yeah Right! Pj Ladd's Wonderful Horrible Life, Cliche Bon Appetit, Flip Sorry, too many to name.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other
festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking
career?
The only other thing I could think of would be to do some kind of physical premiere or Q+A with films and filmmakers.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your
experiences been working on the festival platform site?
Great!

10. What is your favorite meal?
Girl and the Goat - Chicago

11. What is next for you? A new film?
Hopefully, a bit of the behind the scenes and exploring the cast of Still Pushing with a spinoff series. There were so many questions that people had after they watched. I think the best way to address alot of that is another video series with that cast of characters.