Canadian documentary Starting Line: The Team Joshua Story will make its nationwide world premiere on CBC Gem on August 14, 2026, followed by a broadcast on CBC Television on August 15 at 8 p.m. in British Columbia and Alberta. Directed by Josh Richardson, the documentary follows Vancouver mother Michelle Gentis and her son Josh as they challenge conventional ideas about competitive running, inclusion and what is possible for athletes with diverse abilities.
Shot across Vancouver, Langley and Coquitlam, British Columbia, the film tells the story of a mother who turned running into both a form of therapy and a way to help her son experience opportunities that had increasingly become inaccessible to him.
Josh lives with a rare brain disorder and significant physical disabilities. As he grew older, he increasingly found himself excluded from opportunities and community. In 2008, Michelle began running marathons while pushing Josh in his chair. What began as an expression of a mother’s love gradually developed into a remarkable athletic journey and a movement focused on inclusion in sport.
Their achievements have challenged perceptions of what athletes with diverse abilities can accomplish. Now, Michelle and Josh are preparing for their most ambitious challenge yet: attempting to complete the seven prestigious 2027 World Marathon Majors together as a mother-son racing team.
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A Story Built Around the Moments Between the Races
For director Josh Richardson, the story’s power extends beyond the finish lines and athletic achievements.
“The first time I met Michelle and Josh, I was immediately compelled to tell everyone about their story and big dream. I wanted to be involved in any way that I could,” Richardson says.
He describes the documentary as being rooted in the quieter moments surrounding their achievements, including the pauses, deep breaths and moments of doubt that occur away from the spotlight.
“Behind the big achievement of a race, there is an intimate story of a mother and son choosing to push through every day,” Richardson adds.
That perspective gives Starting Line: The Team Joshua Story a focus that extends beyond marathon running. At its heart, the documentary is about persistence, family and the determination to create opportunities where they have previously been denied.
From Personal Therapy to a Movement for Inclusion
Michelle’s relationship with running began as a form of therapy, but her decision to incorporate Josh into her marathon journey transformed its meaning.
Pushing Josh in his chair during races allowed mother and son to experience the sport together while challenging the barriers that had limited his participation in community life. Their journey has since become an example of how sport can create opportunities for connection, participation and visibility.
The documentary follows the personal dimensions of that journey while looking toward the next stage of their ambitious goal. The seven 2027 World Marathon Majors represent an enormous challenge, but for Michelle and Josh, the objective also carries a larger message about accessibility and inclusion.
A Vancouver Production
A Vancouver ProductionStarting Line: The Team Joshua Story was directed by Josh Richardson, who also served as director of photography and editor. Richardson’s previous work includes The Adaptive Athlete and Strong by NM.
The documentary is produced and written by Josh Huculiak, Shaelin Fritzsch and Johanna Richardson. The creative team also includes sound designer Oscar Vargas, whose credits include Seagrass and Longlegs, with colour by Louis Hearn of Epic Mood.
The film features Michelle Gentis, Josh Gentis Hall and his caregiving team, providing audiences with access to the people at the centre of the story and those who support Josh’s journey.
Garden Film Studio
The documentary comes from Garden Film Studio, a Vancouver-based creative film production company founded in 2021 by Josh Huculiak and Shaelin Fritzsch.
GARDEN describes itself as a nurturing space for filmmakers, working both on its own projects and supporting projects and filmmakers whose stories it believes in. The company collaborates with filmmakers to help bring their creative visions to life.
Starting Line: The Team Joshua Story continues that approach through a deeply personal documentary centered on family, sport, disability and inclusion.
Where to Watch
Starting Line: The Team Joshua Story will stream nationwide on CBC Gem beginning August 14, 2026.
The documentary will also air on CBC Television at 8 p.m. in British Columbia and Alberta on August 15, 2026.
The film is a co-production with CBC, with support from Rogers, Creative BC, Government tax credits, Team Joshua Foundation and Trinity Western University.
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