REI Co-op Studios and Wondercamp release “The Right to Joy,” a film about community, perseverance, and inclusion in the world of cycling
This short documentary shares trans athlete Izzy Sederbaum’s experience of recovering after a rare cougar attack, and reclaiming joy and healing through cycling
Jun 22, 2023
REI Co-op Studios, in partnership with Wondercamp, announces the release of its newest short documentary: “The Right to Joy.” The film shares the story of Izzy Sederbaum, a trans-masculine cyclist and policy scholar who survived a rare cougar attack on a bicycle ride just outside Seattle in early 2018.
The Right to Joy follows Sederbaum’s journey as he navigates the aftermath of the attack, overcomes his fears, and becomes a vocal advocate for diversity and trans inclusion within cycling communities across the country. The film, which premiered at 5Point Film Festival and was recently screened at Tribeca Film Festival, is now available for REI members and the greater co-op community to watch on REI’s YouTube channel.
While the incident was broadly covered, news stories focused on the cougar attack, not the victims, and Sederbaum was never interviewed by a single outlet. “The Right to Joy” is a reclamation of his story, while amplifying the voices of a group historically underrepresented in outdoor sports.
“The attack has spurred countless bouts of mental and physical pain no one could anticipate or begin to imagine. I had a choice to either wallow in this tragedy and loss or help inspire others get back on the bicycle saddle,” said Sederbaum. “I chose the latter, and by helping others, I also began to heal. I’m lucky to be alive, and it means so much to finally be able to tell my story in my own words and from a place of joy and healing.”
Discussions for “The Right to Joy” first began in 2021, when Sederbaum connected with friend and filmmaker/director Jay Melena during a bicycle ride. Melena, who is also trans, was immediately drawn to Sederbaum’s story and his search for community and acceptance through cycling. They then connected with co-director Tim Kressin of Wondercamp and REI Co-op Studios to create the 20-minute short film.
“It was important to me from the start that we build positive representations of trans people in the film via the behind-the-lens work,” said Melena. “Izzy was deeply involved in crafting the message of the film, while our shared experiences as trans people created a sense of ownership and belonging. Tim’s directorial expertise elevated the result to a cinematic experience we hope will connect viewers with the universal aspects of grief, anxiety and joy, while also uplifting trans filmmakers.”
Kressin is a co-founder of Wondercamp, and as a director focuses on building empathy by highlighting often under-told or under-seen stories. Based in Seattle, Kressin believes in staying curious, listening well, and connecting each story to the universally human emotions in all of us. Melena is a Santa Cruz-based director and photographer who specializes in all things outdoor and narrative-driven stories. As a trans filmmaker, he has a passion for centering stories of those less often seen in the spotlight.
This story embodies REI Co-op Studios’ efforts to explore the power of time spent outside through the voices of historically underrepresented groups. This is REI Co-op Studio’s second film to screen at Tribeca Film Festival. This year’s festival premiered more than 250 films over the course of 12 days, with a slate of features and short films highlighting politically, culturally, and socially relevant films from diverse storytellers. “The Right to Joy” screened in the shorts category.
“This is a story about perseverance and the importance of community and acceptance in the outdoors,” said Paolo Mottola, REI Co-op's director of brand and content marketing. “We are grateful to Izzy for his bravery in sharing his story, for directors Tim and Jay for their care of such a personal narrative, and for the continued advocacy of dedicated activists like Izzy who work tirelessly toward a more inclusive and safe outdoors. We are proud to make this film for our members and the broader co-op community.”
Other production crew members included Producer: Davis Goslin, Assistant Producer: Abdul Kassamali, Cinematographer: Greg Balkin, Location Sound: Megan Martinez Goltz, Assistant Editor: Makenna Wall, and Executive Producers: Paolo Mottola, Joe Crosby and Hanna Boyd.
About REI Co-op Studios
REI Co-op Studios develops, produces and invests in stories that challenge the historically narrow depiction of the outdoors so that all people can see themselves outside. Spanning film, podcast and editorial, these stories seek to humanize outdoor retailer REI Co-op’s broader commitments to climate action and racial equity, diversity and inclusion. REI Co-op Studios’ slate includes feature films THE DARK DIVIDE (David Cross, Debra Messing), Kyra Sedgwick-directed SPACE ODDITY (Kevin Bacon, Alexandra Shipp, Kyle Allen) and director Billy Luther’s FRYBREAD FACE AND ME, executive produced by Taika Waititi. Past projects include the award-winning short film trilogy THE TREES REMEMBER and podcasts HELLO, NATURE and CAMP MONSTERS.
About Wondercamp
Wondercamp is an award-winning, full-service production company based in Seattle. With a strong presence in the documentary space for nearly a decade, they have created a reputation for thoughtful and value-driven storytelling that empowers voices of people who need to be heard. Through every step of production, their mission is to challenge viewers to be more compassionate, more humble, and more curious.
About the REI Co-op
REI is a specialty outdoor retailer, headquartered near Seattle. The nation’s largest consumer co-op, REI is a growing community of 24 million members who expect and love the best quality gear, inspiring expert classes and trips, and outstanding customer service. In addition to the co-op’s many stores across the country, outdoor enthusiasts can shop at REI.com, REI Outlet or the REI shopping app. Everyone is welcome to shop REI, but members who join the co-op enjoy a range of benefits. More than a retailer, REI is a purpose-driven and values-led company dedicated to enabling life outside for all.