Sculptors of Speed

Before software, Seattle built boats.

In a University of Washington boathouse, an English craftsman named George Pocock quietly changed American sport. His cedar racing shells carried the university’s legendary 1936 “Boys in the Boat” crew to Olympic gold.

Following its world premiere at the ninth annual Mystic Film Festival, Sculptors of Speed returns home for its Seattle premiere at MOHAI. Directed by award-winning novelist and Emmy-nominated producer and writer Maren Higbee, this feature documentary examines the life and legacy of English boatbuilder George Pocock, tracing his journey to North America and Seattle and his lasting influence on generations of athletes and coaches.

Through Pocock’s story, the film explores the enduring value of craftsmanship and why those values still matter in a culture driven by speed and performance. The documentary also follows how Pocock’s craft carried through the shift from wooden racing shells to modern materials.

Interviews include bestselling author Daniel James Brown, author of The Boys in the Boat; University of Washington rowing coaches Michael Callahan and Yasmin “Yaz” Farooq; rowing historians; Pocock Racing Shells president John Tytus; master boatbuilder Steve Chapin; and others carrying Pocock’s legacy forward today.

Doors will open at 6:30 pm and the film will begin at 7:00 pm.

Sculptors of Speed Trailer