Help us bring a short film about Adventure Aerialist Sasha Galitzki across the finish line!

Wild Aerial is a short documentary film that follows Sasha Galitzki to dramatic ice-bound locations in the Canadian Rockies, where her gravity-defying aerial performances draw attention to the beauty and fragility of rapidly changing icescapes.

The film delivers a front-row seat to Sasha's grandest aerial performance to date. By illustrating Sasha's unique approach to combining performance art with mountain adventure, the film explores the challenges of pursuing high-risk artistic endeavours, nurturing a deeper connection to nature, and blazing a trail off the beaten path—sequins optional.

Estimated Run Time: 15 minutes

Who is Sasha Galitzki?

Blending techniques from the disparate worlds of mountaineering and acrobatics, Sasha Galitzki performs gravity-defying routines in subzero temperatures, all without being ‘tied in’. Her aerial adventures require immense physicality, sound risk-assessment, and unwavering confidence much like free soloing—only with flips, spins, and occasional splits.

A lifelong outdoorswoman, Sasha Galitzki has been enjoying the ups and downs of adventures outside ever since she was catapulted out of her dad’s ski pack and into a snowdrift as a baby. As an adult, she's become an avid mountaineer, skier, paddler, and climber. She worked as a professional ski patroller in Tahoe for seven years. She holds an FKT for climbing the 32 peaks of Waterton Lakes National Park. She’s a Certified Whitewater Canoeist and has rafted the Grand Canyon twice. 

Her love for high places & hard things led her to acrobatics in 2008, and she's been hooked ever since. She holds coaching certifications in three different acrobatic disciplines and is the Founder & Owner of Cirque Aurora, which shares the wonder & spectacle of circus arts throughout the Rockies.

It was only a matter of time before she combined her love of wild places with her love for artistic movement. As an artist, she specializes in creative photo, film, and performance projects in nature.  As Sasha turns 40 and continues pushing her limits as an athlete-meets-artist, she inspires us to explore new ways to move through, and connect with, our environment.

Why share her story?

In Sasha, we've found a trailblazing woman with an unconventional means of artistic expression.

She reminds us of the common ground between art and adventure. Her story inspires us to follow our passions, think outside the box, and push beyond the boundaries of what we believe is possible.

We believe that this story explores risk assessment from a fresh perspective. Newly 40, Sasha shares how her years of experience puts her in a fleeting 'sweet spot' to make sound risk assessments. Sasha speaks openly about her process for mitigating risks as she attempts physically and logistically demanding acrobatic feats that have never been done before.

Last but not least, Sasha's performances also draw attention to the beauty and fragility of our rapidly changing icescapes — not only in the Canadian Rockies, where she performs, but elsewhere around the world.

Financial Need

Wild Aerial began as a passion project between two female artists, Sasha and emerging director Trixie Pacis. As our friendship grew, so did our dreams and ambitions for this film project.  

As we enter post-production, we are now turning to our community for help to assemble a talented team — comprised of an Editor, Colourist, and Sound Mixer — to bring this project to fruition. 

As these projects often go, the size and scope of the story have evolved, taking us on a wild and grand adventure. We were unsuccessful in securing funding from grants or corporate sponsors.

Believing deeply in this story, we self-financed filming in three remote locations over two years. Our passionate team dedicated their time and talents to capture stunning footage of gravity-defying performances, compelling interviews, and plenty of b-roll featuring a very adorable puppy. We have all the ingredients for a remarkable film but need your help to bring all of these elements together. 

We aim to make the best film possible by hiring post-production creatives whose skills and values can help us bring this story to the widest possible audience. Our fundraising goal reflects the cost of paying all creatives fairly for their contributions.

Primary Goal: 
$18,000 CAD produces a finished film

Stretch Goal:
$26,500 CAD produces our dream film
 

Here's what your investment will go towards:

• Editor
• Colourist
• Sound Mixer
• Official Trailer
• Music Licensing 
• Festival Entry Fees
• Marketing

If we hit our stretch goals:

• Original Compositions
• Reimbursement for existing expenses such as filming permits, ACMG Guiding/Rigging fees, travel expenses, and gear such as aerial silks and hard drives.
• All Creatives are paid their rate
   

What You Get

Your support does not go unrewarded!

Our sponsorship tiers provide a variety of ways to get involved and support this project and every contribution, no matter the size, will help make the difference between a good film and a great one.

In exchange, every supporter will receive a thank you on our website and a free digital download of an Exclusive Phone Wallpaper shot by Director Trixie Pacis!

Depending on the tier, other perks include:
- Access to a Virtual Viewing Party
- An Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Footage Reel
- A Thank-you in the Film Credits
- A Digital Copy of the Wild Aerial Film
- An Executive or Associate Producer Credit

All supporters also have the opportunity to add on a limited-edition copy of the official Wild Aerial film poster designed by the incredible Jasper artist Celina Frisson and/or a print of Kristopher Andres's iconic photograph of Sasha performing in an ice cave!

For more details, click on the right side of this page to discover each perk.

Distribution

Our vision is to bring the beauty of the Rockies and the inspiration of Sasha's story to as many viewers as possible.

We aim to do this by submitting the film to renowned festivals around the world including the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, Kendal Mountain Film Festival, 5Point, Telluride, Mountainfilm, Sans Souci Festival of Dance Cinema, Circus International Film Festival, and more.

We will seek broader distribution through cable television networks and streaming platforms. The film will eventually be available for rental and purchase on Vimeo or a similar platform.

The Team You're Backing

Your support fuels the creative ambitions of artists who share a deep passion for art and adventure. And snacks.

TRIXIE PACIS

Director, Producer, Cinematographer

Trixie Pacis is an emerging Filipina-Canadian filmmaker and Director of Content & Programming at ChimeTV, America's only Asian American and Pacific Islander cable network. Her documentary work explores themes of identity, belonging, and stewardship in mountain communities and demonstrates a deep passion for bringing quiet voices and overlooked stories to wider audiences.

Trixie is a multi-disciplinary storyteller. In lieu of film school, she learned the ropes through a mosaic of diverse roles and experiences. She spent the early stages of her career exploring different areas of the entertainment industry as an Assistant at Trisko Talent Management, Script Development Coordinator at Drive Films, and Producer's Assistant on various feature films. Curious to explore further afield, she spent two years living in India, Slovenia, Portugal, and the Philippines working remotely as a freelance screenwriter, copywriter, social media manager, and photographer. 

Born in the Philippines and raised in Vancouver, Trixie now calls the 'one light town' of Kimberley, BC home. Although she discovered her enthusiasm for the outdoors relatively late in life, she makes up for it by weaving nature into her film work and climbing, hiking, skiing, and surfing whenever possible. 

Not in her wildest dreams did she think she'd ever film an aerialist in an ice cave!

LUKAS NEMETH

Cinematographer, Editor

Lukas is a videographer and editor with an unwavering passion for storytelling through the lens. His love affair with video and filming ignited when he purchased his first camera over two decades ago, originally driven by a desire to document the vibrant world of skateboarding in his hometown. However, a different path beckoned in his twenties. Yet, the spark never waned. The allure of visual storytelling pulled him back, rekindling a passion he couldn't ignore. His pursuit of excellence led him to acquire certifications in Davinci Resolve, a professional editing and colour-grading program celebrated in Hollywood. This mastery over the art of post-production not only refines his craft but allows stories to unfold with greater impact.

Risks & Challenges

Our team is committed to seeing this project through to fruition. If we do not meet our crowdfunding goals, we will make adjustments to produce the best film possible with the resources available. This may involve the film's creators forfeiting professional fees and reimbursement for production costs. 

Other Ways You Can Help

If a financial contribution (starting at $10 CAD) is not possible for you right now, please help us make some noise for this project. Share our campaign link on social media, or better yet, invite individual friends to support our project. Every contribution, no matter the size, will go a long way.

For more information on the project, please visit our website at wild-aerial.com.

SPECIAL THANKS

Marcus Waring, Rigger, ACMG Guide, Talent

Kris Andres, Photographer

Jeff Mitchell, Rigger, ACMG Guide