Browse Films

Fat girls rule the water in Weightless, a short documentary film about a scuba diving camp for plus-size women. Called Big Adventures, the camp was created by Liz Nickels, a psychologist and certified scuba diver & instructor. Nickels created Big Adventures after her own experience learning how to scuba dive, during which she felt ostracized by other divers because of her size. Three women, two who are new to diving, join Liz on a Big Adventures trip in 2008. Weightless depicts larger women as they are rarely seen: 1) as physically active, and 2) not consumed by the need or expectation to be thin.

Weightless tells an inspiring story about fat women struggling against society's perceptions and their own fears in order to take the scuba diving plunge… A useful tool for provoking discussion in classes on gender, sociology of health, and sports studies."
Kathleen LeBesco, Professor of Communication Arts
Marymount Manhattan College

Weightless is a film that challenges the viewer’s preconceived ideas about the physical capabilities of people of size. It works well in an educational or advocacy setting as it is sure to stimulate lively discussion about body image, weight and size acceptance.”
Peggy Howell, Public Relations Director
National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA)

AWARDS & SCREENINGS:

• U.S. television broadcast, Documentary Channel
• Palm Beach Women's International Film Festival
• WAM! Film Festival (Boston)
• BITE ME! Film Festival (Toronto)
• National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) 2010 Convention