Ultra

Ultra addresses the urgent need for honest conversations about men’s mental health and identity in a culture that equates success with endurance and performance. Rates of anxiety, depression and suicide among men remain high, yet vulnerability is often hidden behind toughness and achievement. Through the journey of two men who have used extreme sport to define their self-worth, Ultra exposes the emotional cost of these pressures—intensified by social media and societal expectations. The film challenges narrow definitions of masculinity and success, inviting men to redefine strength through authenticity and self-acceptance. By humanising these struggles, Ultra aims to spark dialogue, reduce stigma and support broader efforts to promote mental wellbeing and emotional literacy among men and boys.

The impact goal of Ultra is to use the film as a catalyst for conversation and connection around men’s mental health and modern masculinity. Through a national screening and discussion campaign—in partnership with mental health organisations, men’s wellbeing networks, and sporting communities—the film will foster safe spaces for dialogue about vulnerability, purpose and identity. The campaign aims to challenge harmful cultural norms that equate strength with endurance and achievement, replacing them with narratives of authenticity and emotional resilience. Ultimately, Ultra seeks to build awareness, reduce stigma, and inspire behavioural change—encouraging men and boys to seek support, open up, and redefine what it means to be strong.

Ultra aims to spark national conversation about men’s mental health and modern masculinity, challenging cultural norms that equate strength with endurance and achievement. Through the journey of two men who have defined themselves via extreme sport, the film fosters awareness of the emotional costs of performance-driven identity and social-media pressures. Partnering with mental health organisations, mens groups, schools, sporting clubs, and community groups, Ultra will be used in screenings, discussions, and educational resources to encourage reflection, dialogue, and behavioural change. Its goal is to reduce stigma, promote emotional literacy, and inspire men and boys to embrace vulnerability, seek support, and redefine strength through authenticity and purpose. Impact in schools will be a major consideration in our impact campaign.

We have a direct and trusted relationship with the communities at the heart of Ultra. The film follows ultra-endurance cyclist Abdullah Zeinab, giving us intimate access to elite endurance athletes and the extreme sports world. Filmmaker Ben Forsyth has longstanding connections in sporting and MMA communities, providing unique insight into male performance culture. Both Ben and Abdullah have connections to mens groups. Additionally, we are partnering with mental health and men’s wellbeing organisations, schools, and youth programs to extend access to broader audiences. This combination of personal connection, professional networks, and organisational partnerships ensures authentic engagement with the men, athletes, and educators whose stories and responses the film seeks to capture and influence.

Ultra invites audiences to reflect on the pressures of performance and identity, and to have honest conversations about vulnerability and wellbeing. It encourages men and boys to seek support from mental health services or peer networks and challenges narrow definitions of masculinity in communities, schools, and workplaces. The film also prompts audiences to share its message, participate in discussions, and use it as a tool for education and advocacy, fostering safer, more supportive environments and sparking wider cultural change around emotional literacy and male wellbeing.