Girls on the Run of Montgomery County’s GOTR FilmFest 2025 will take place on Thursday, February 27, at the Suburban Hospital Auditorium in Bethesda, featuring the films Little Giant, Sports: The Unequal Divide, and Finding Traction, while raising funds to support scholarships, running shoes, and coach training for its youth programs.
Per GOTR: “Girls on the Run (GOTR) of Montgomery County is back with their GOTR FilmFest. The event, which pairs the excitement of film with a mission to empower young girls, will once again benefit Girls on the Run, to help ensure every girl who wants to participate can do so.
GOTR FilmFest 2025 is a night of independent short films, speakers, and fun all celebrating women. It will also provide the opportunity for the community to learn more about Girls on the Run and its impact, and support the organization’s Scholarship Fund.
Girls on the Run offers programs designed to inspire girls of all abilities to recognize and embrace their inner strength and make meaningful connections with others. Trained coaches use physical
activity and dynamic discussions to foster social, emotional, and physical skills while encouraging healthy habits for life. In today’s unpredictable world, the strategies learned at Girls on the Run are more impactful than ever.
GOTR FilmFest 2025 will include three exceptional films, one of which was created by an MCPS student.
- Film: Little Giant
After her older sister causes her to feel small and unimportant, a young girl finds validation by confronting a giant robot terrorizing her street. The director, Sean Foy, produced and stars his daughters in this film. In addition to the film, Sean Foy has provided a video add-on where he discusses his inspiration and film themes. - Film: Sports: The Unequal Divide
A documentary-style film created by a local Montgomery County student filmmaker. This film explores the role of family economics in sports participation and highlights the inequalities faced by young athletes. The film sheds light on how financial barriers impact access to sports. - Film: Finding Traction
“Finding Traction” presents the inspirational story of ultra-runner Nikki Kimball and her quest to become the fastest person in history to run America’s oldest hiking trail, the 273-mile Long Trail. The documentary asks what drives her to attempt such an incredible feat and follows Nikki’s journey from its beginning – training and racing in the Rocky Mountains – to her actual record attempt through Vermont’s beautiful but brutal Green Mountains. Throughout the film, Nikki’s crew and support team provide an intimate portrayal of the courage, grit, and passion behind her record attempt, and interviews with the world’s leading evolutionary biologists, including Bernd Heinrich, author of “Why We Run,” shed light on the science and psychology behind Nikki’s incredible race against time.
Girls on the Run of Montgomery County serves more than 4,000 girls each year with more than 1,000 receiving financial assistance, and 200 pairs of shoes are provided to underserved girls each year. “Events like GOTR FilmFest keep Girls on the Run affordable and keep Girls on the Run within Montgomery County,” said Elizabeth Richards, President of the GOTR of Montgomery County Advisory Council, a group of young professionals who support the mission of Girls on the Run.
“We are committed to removing financial barriers so every girl who wants to participate in Girls on the Run can. The money raised from the GOTR FilmFest funds scholarships so girls can enroll in the program, provides running shoes for participating girls who need them, and ensures coaches receive first aid/CPR training.”
Girls on the Run has fun, evidence-based programs that inspire all girls to build their confidence, kindness, and decision-making skills.
Dynamic lessons instill valuable life skills including the important connection between physical and emotional health. This is all done while the girls train for a 5K race held at the end of each season. An independent study found that 97 percent of participants learned essential life skills at Girls on the Run – including managing emotions, resolving conflict, helping others, or making intentional decisions – that they continue to use at home, at school, and with their friends.
“Having been both a participant and a coach, I’ve seen firsthand how transformative the Girls on the Run experience is. The program’s focus on building self-esteem and confidence in young women is invaluable. Lessons I learned as a participant continue to resonate with me today, and as a coach, I was constantly inspired by the emotional intelligence and strength of the girls I worked with.
I still walk away from every lesson in awe of the emotional intelligence and strength of the girls around me,” said Bridget O’Hara, GOTR of Montgomery County coach and member of the GOTR of Montgomery County Advisory Council.