{"id":1062,"date":"2026-07-20T12:43:50","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T12:43:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/?p=1062"},"modified":"2026-07-20T12:44:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T12:44:13","slug":"sharp-edges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/?p=1062","title":{"rendered":"Sharp Edges"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"518\" height=\"800\" data-id=\"1064\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/05_CSH_Sharp-Edge_Poster-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1064\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/05_CSH_Sharp-Edge_Poster-1.jpg 518w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/05_CSH_Sharp-Edge_Poster-1-194x300.jpg 194w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 518px) 100vw, 518px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shara Zaia, a writer and climber, navigates the sharp edges of identity, belonging, and mental health within the Assyrian diaspora &#8211; one of the world\u2019s oldest, yet most endangered cultures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Project Type:<\/strong> Documentary, Short<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Genres:<\/strong> Cultural Documentary, Documentary, Assyrian, Climbing Documentary, Indigenous, Poetic, Climbing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Runtime:<\/strong> 7 minutes 12 seconds<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Country of Origin:<\/strong> United States<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Language:<\/strong> English, Other<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Sharp Edges Trailer 2026\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OqDtslZ53p0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Headshot-0906973172-headshot.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1065\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Headshot-0906973172-headshot.jpg 640w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Headshot-0906973172-headshot-240x300.jpg 240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Director Biography &#8211;&nbsp;Shara Zaia, Max Haimowitz<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfreeway-production-storage-01-connector.filmfreeway.com\/press_kits\/headshots\/003\/709\/752\/original\/0906973172-headshot.jpg?1763851577\"><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shara Zaia is an athlete, storyteller and community organizer whose work centers identity and belonging. Sharp Edges, her poetic documentary debut, weaves together her Assyrian heritage, mental health, and the resilience she found through rock climbing. Drawing from years of advocacy in education and the outdoor industry, Shara is driven by a desire to uplift overlooked perspectives. Her writing has been published in Alpinist Magazine, The Climbing Zine, Climbing Magazine, and she&#8217;s been featured on the Assyrian Podcast, Dirtbag Diaries, and Dirtbag State of Mind. As co-founder of Cruxing in Color, a Colorado-based 501(c)(3), she supports marginalized climbers with free gym memberships, gear, educational clinics, and community events. She also works full-time planning events for Protect Our Winters where she advocates for a healthy planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Max Haimowitz is a director, cinematographer, producer, and photographer based in Salt Lake City, Utah. He founded Desert Trip Productions to share impactful stories, particularly those centered around the outdoors and the people who explore it. Known for capturing compelling content in extreme conditions, from cliff sides to mountain summits, Max played a key role in developing campaigns and content for Ford, 11th Hour Racing, Microsoft, KEDS, HOKA, and Grade 7 Equipment, crafting brand stories that resonate with broad audiences. Max thrives in documentary storytelling, highlighting the power of narratives that deeply connect with people and convey impactful messages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Director Statement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sharp Edges is the film I needed when I was younger. When I was caught between cultures, identities, and expectations that never quite fit. As an Assyrian woman raised in the United States, I\u2019ve lived most of my life with the invisible weight of diaspora.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Climbing became the first place where that weight felt lighter. On the wall, I found a rare stillness. It became a space where my mind could soften, and where my body felt capable, grounded, and free. Yet even in the outdoors, I couldn\u2019t fully escape the shadows of humanity until I realized the key to true freedom is my own complexity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Through poetic narration, intimate visuals, and the textured world of the outdoors, Sharp Edges is a love letter to those who live in between identities, who carry their ancestors\u2019 stories in their bones, and who continue to seek healing in movement. It is an invitation to feel pride in the sharp edges that make us unique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"1066\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-1-M.THURK_25_05_0045-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1066\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-1-M.THURK_25_05_0045-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-1-M.THURK_25_05_0045-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-1-M.THURK_25_05_0045.jpg 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-2-M.THURK_25_05_0039-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1067\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-2-M.THURK_25_05_0039-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-2-M.THURK_25_05_0039-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-2-M.THURK_25_05_0039.jpg 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-3-M.THURK_25_05_0042-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1068\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-3-M.THURK_25_05_0042-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-3-M.THURK_25_05_0042-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-3-M.THURK_25_05_0042.jpg 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" data-id=\"1070\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-4-max_haimowitz_DesertTripProductions_SharpEdges2-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1070\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-4-max_haimowitz_DesertTripProductions_SharpEdges2-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-4-max_haimowitz_DesertTripProductions_SharpEdges2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-4-max_haimowitz_DesertTripProductions_SharpEdges2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-4-max_haimowitz_DesertTripProductions_SharpEdges2.jpg 1534w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-id=\"1069\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-5-max_haimowitz_DesertTripProductions_SharpEdges-SharaZaia-04-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1069\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-5-max_haimowitz_DesertTripProductions_SharpEdges-SharaZaia-04-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-5-max_haimowitz_DesertTripProductions_SharpEdges-SharaZaia-04-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-5-max_haimowitz_DesertTripProductions_SharpEdges-SharaZaia-04-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-5-max_haimowitz_DesertTripProductions_SharpEdges-SharaZaia-04-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-5-max_haimowitz_DesertTripProductions_SharpEdges-SharaZaia-04.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"685\" data-id=\"1071\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-6-max_haimowitz_DesertTripProductions_SharpEdges5-1024x685.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1071\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-6-max_haimowitz_DesertTripProductions_SharpEdges5-1024x685.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-6-max_haimowitz_DesertTripProductions_SharpEdges5-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-6-max_haimowitz_DesertTripProductions_SharpEdges5-768x514.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-6-max_haimowitz_DesertTripProductions_SharpEdges5-1536x1028.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-6-max_haimowitz_DesertTripProductions_SharpEdges5.jpg 1614w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"570\" data-id=\"1072\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-7-max_haimowitz_DesertTripProductions_SharpEdges3-1024x570.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1072\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-7-max_haimowitz_DesertTripProductions_SharpEdges3-1024x570.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-7-max_haimowitz_DesertTripProductions_SharpEdges3-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-7-max_haimowitz_DesertTripProductions_SharpEdges3-768x428.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-7-max_haimowitz_DesertTripProductions_SharpEdges3-1536x855.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-7-max_haimowitz_DesertTripProductions_SharpEdges3.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Project Links<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sharazaia.com\/sharpedges\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u00a0Website<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/sharazaia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u00a0Instagram<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">News &amp; Reviews<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>&#8220;Emerging filmmakers receive $10K grants&#8221;Aspen Daily News<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspendailynews.com\/arts_and_entertainment\/emerging-filmmakers-receive-10k-grants\/article_bc8cb006-6f48-4504-a99a-1f68fd44ca72.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.aspendailynews.com\/arts_and_entertainment\/emerging-filmmakers-receive-10k-grants\/article_bc8cb006-6f48-4504-a99a-1f68fd44ca72.html<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;Sharp Edges: Holding on By Letting Go&#8221;The Climbing Zine<a href=\"https:\/\/climbingzine.com\/holding-on-by-letting-go-by-shara-zaia-volume-24-excerpt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/climbingzine.com\/holding-on-by-letting-go-by-shara-zaia-volume-24-excerpt\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;Holding Space and Leading The Way: A Conversation with Shara Zaia&#8221;Dirtbag State of Mind<a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/episode\/2Hycv2lCdOYdo3NlPo7m9i\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/episode\/2Hycv2lCdOYdo3NlPo7m9i<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;Holding On By Letting Go&#8221;Dirtbag Diaries<a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/episode\/3vrA5UDGX2Yx2V9zDYyf67\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/episode\/3vrA5UDGX2Yx2V9zDYyf67<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;Sharp Edges&#8221;Osprey Stories<a href=\"https:\/\/www.osprey.com\/stories\/climbing-mountaineering\/sharp-edges\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.osprey.com\/stories\/climbing-mountaineering\/sharp-edges<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Screenings &amp; Awards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>5Point Film Festival<\/strong><br>Carbondale, CO<br>April 24, 2026<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>No Man&#8217;s Land Film Festival<\/strong><br>Denver, CO <br>March 7, 2026<br>First Look<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Flagstaff Mountain Film Fest<\/strong><br>Flagstaff, AZ<br>April 9, 2026<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Flash Foxy Climbing Festival<\/strong><br>Bishop, CA<br>March 14, 2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:62px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-interactive=\"core\/file\" class=\"wp-block-file\"><object data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!state.hasPdfPreview\" hidden class=\"wp-block-file__embed\" data=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Sharp-Edges-Press-Kit.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:600px\" aria-label=\"Embed of Sharp Edges Press Kit.\"><\/object><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-7689c925-b9d7-46e5-8c52-c1a75bf347a4\" href=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Sharp-Edges-Press-Kit.pdf\">Sharp Edges Press Kit<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Sharp-Edges-Press-Kit.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-7689c925-b9d7-46e5-8c52-c1a75bf347a4\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Shara Zaia, a writer and climber, navigates the sharp edges of identity, belonging, and mental health within the Assyrian diaspora &#8211; one of the world\u2019s oldest, yet most endangered cultures. Director Biography &#8211;&nbsp;Shara Zaia, Max Haimowitz Shara Zaia is an athlete, storyteller and community organizer whose work centers identity and belonging. Sharp Edges, her poetic &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/?p=1062\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Sharp Edges&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1070,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1062","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cultural-short-doc"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1062","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1062"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1062\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1073,"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1062\/revisions\/1073"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1070"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1062"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1062"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1062"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}