Vindication Swim, the film biopic that highlights the true story of Mercedes Gleitze, a trailblazer of open water swimming 100 years ago, has been released to celebrate International Women’s Day in more than 150 cinemas across the UK.

Shot largely in Sussex, UK, the film, Vindication Swim, is an award-winning biopic about the extraordinary life of Mercedes Gleitze, a pioneer in the world of open-water swimming, who in 1927 became the first British woman to swim the English Channel.

As a working-class, unmarried typist, Gleitze self-funded all of her swims and it took her a total of eight attempts before finally achieving her challenge to conquer the English Channel. However, following her success, a rival emerged, claiming the same feat, which forced Gleitze into a battle to retain her record and legacy.

After the English Channel, Gleitze went on to achieve many more incredible swims around the world, including the Straits of Gibraltar, the Dardanelles and the dangerous distance between Robben Island and Cape Town. In celebration of International Women’s Day, Vindication Swim serves as a poignant reminder of the indomitable spirit of a woman who dared to dream beyond the confines of her era.

The film’s release on the 8th of March, International Women’s Day, hopes to bring the legacy of this remarkable woman back into the spotlight. 

Elliott Hasler, Director, Vindication Swim, said: “It was our aim to really submerge the audience into the waters of the English Channel and in that way hope to pay homage to the spirit of this incredible woman. So everything you see on screen is real, all shot without the use of tanks, green screens or body doubles, all swimming scenes were shot in the English Channel. I want audiences to feel as if they are swimming right alongside Mercedes on her incredible journey and share in her love affair with the water.”

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You can find a full list of cinemas showing the film HERE and the film’s official website for further information HERE.