Documentary · 2027 · Switzerland
A rowing world record attempt becomes a journey across boundaries, community, and the sea.
Synopsis
Four men, one rowing boat – 4800 kilometers across the Atlantic. Non-stop, without an accompanying vessel, without the possibility to disembark. Their goal: a world record. But 44 WEST is far more than a film about athletic excellence. It is a psychological portrait of four very different personalities who risk everything on the open sea – and in the end, confront themselves.
Trailer
Credits
Director
- Fabio Stecher, Jan Baumgartner
Cinematographer
- Biby Jacob
Composer
- David Fähndrich
Writers
- Fabio Stecher
- Jan Baumgartner
Cast
- Julian Müller
- Matthias Fernandes Garcia
- Luca Fayd'Herbe De Maudave
- Lorenzo Henseler
Producers
- Timothy Ross
- Alexander Stratigenas
- Govind Sharma
- Dragan Gavric
Companies
- ORISONO
- Salient Media
Stills
About the production
44 WEST accompanies four young Swiss men who have set out to cross the Atlantic in a rowing boat – aiming to break the world record in the toughest rowing race on Earth, the "World's Toughest Row". But the film tells much more than a sports adventure: it takes us deep into an extreme psychological experience, into a project between self-discovery, friendship, and societal expectations. The four protagonists not only battle the ocean but also their own doubts, family conflicts, professional expectations, and physical limits. With every wave, they also confront the question: Who am I – beyond performance, recognition, and demands? For 30 days, these men are left to their own devices.
44 WEST was produced in co-production with Salient Media and Swiss Studios AG.
The unique shooting conditions on an offshore rowing boat demand an innovative camera concept to capture the extraordinary and often unpredictable moments of the Atlantic crossing as authentically as possible. For this, ORISONO relied on a specially developed autonomous camera system, which functions reliably even under extreme conditions. The combination of fixed cameras and microphones (primary system) and supplementary mobile perspectives (secondary system) creates a visual language that is both dynamic and intimate. This autonomous camera system is currently being further developed for a new project and will accompany another extreme sports team through the Drake Passage in Antarctica in 2027.
Behind the Scenes
Distribution
The film is currently in post-production and is scheduled for release in 2027. Distribution in Switzerland will be handled by the venerable distributor Praesens Film. Praesens is the oldest continuously operating film company in Switzerland and has been awarded four Oscars for its cinematic successes.
