GRAPPLING GRACE
A jazz-dancing Iranian-British wrestler opens a healing dojo inside a church, armed with a belief that wrestling and kindness will save the world.
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Grappling Grace is looking for donations to help cover production costs and support the professionals who helped bring the film together. If you would like to be a part of the journey in bringing Wrestle For Humanity's story to the big screen, please consider donating.
GRAPPLING GRACE is an uplifting short film documentary about Coach Saeed Esmaeli's journey to creating a unique type of therapy centering around the connection between body, mind and community.
Through his social movement Wrestle for Humanity, Saeed's groundbreaking Wrestle for any-Body™ program and his work with offenders, refugees and neurodivergent children has been recognised by an honorary doctorate and an award from King Charles. However, when his mother suffers a sudden stroke everything changes. Caring for her strips away his certainty as the spiralling cost of care threatens to leave them homeless.
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Directed by Alex Kiehl and Misha Novak
2026
GRAPPLING GRACE is about grief disguised as comedy and therapy disguised as combat. An uplifting short film about healing, creativity and the small acts that keep us human. The original score by Ruben Fox, a leading voice in the UK and US jazz scene, was recorded live to picture with an eight-piece band.
Awards and Recognitions
Grappling Grace has gained international recognition from the following bodies.
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Official Selection - Balinale 2026 - Oscar qualifying
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Official Selection - Brooklyn IFF 2026
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Official Selection - Sadler's Wells Dance Digital 2026
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Official Selection - II MYTH Social Impact Film Award
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Winner Best Documentary - Paris Bridge of Peace Festival
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Winner Best Documentary - Kiez Berlin FF
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Winner Best Documentary - London Film Club
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Winner Best Health and Medicine Film - Sicilian Film Awards, Madonie Film Festival 2026