This project was initiated and directed by Courtney Carl filmed in october 2023, and was an intense labour of love until the premiere in march 2025.
Running Away to the Circus offers an unfiltered glimpse into a contortionist’s journey from small-town Montana to the European circus stage. With no formal training, Marina earned a place at Montreal’s École Nationale de Cirque at age 16. Watch Marina and her fellow artists in the final weeks before their show’s premiere in Belgium, capturing the grit, chaos, and risk of chasing an unconventional dream.