The San Francisco Dance Film Festival kicked off their 15th season with an inspiring and emotional opening night featuring Suspending Time, a new documentary about New York City Ballet principal dancer Tiler Peck.

The screening took place at George Lucas’s San Francisco campus, a space known for hosting some of the world’s most prestigious film events, and it was the perfect setting for a film that celebrates artistry, perseverance, and the creative spirit.

Click below to WATCH our exclusive interview with Tiler!

Suspending Time offers a raw and honest look at one of ballet’s most celebrated artists during a pivotal moment in her career. After facing a major injury, the pandemic, and personal loss, Tiler Peck, principal dancer with New York City Ballet, finds herself rethinking her connection to dance, to her body, and to who she is beyond the stage.

Directed by Alex Ramsey, the film follows Tiler over six years from the studio to the stage and everywhere in between as she works to come back stronger, not only as a performer but as a choreographer and creative leader. With original work by Tiler and choreography by Alonzo King, William Forsythe, George Balanchine, and Christopher Wheeldon, Suspending Time captures what it means to evolve, rebuild, and keep moving forward.

Before the screening, we had the chance to meet Tiler Peck along with Garin Scribner, the film’s producer and Artistic Director of the San Francisco Dance Film Festival. Garin, who previously danced with San Francisco Ballet, shared how much he admired Tiler’s drive and dedication.

“Tiler was so great to work with and I’m always so motivated by her resilience,” he said. “She’s just unstoppable, and if something gets in her way, it’s about how do we get around it, what’s the next step. She never sulks, she never gets depressed, it’s ‘what’s next.’ She is a dancer’s dancer. It’s all about foundational principles, back to the barre; if you fall, you get back up again. And she’s absolutely committed to her art form. She’s amazing and deserves to have a film about her.”

That same spirit shines through in Suspending Time, which offers a deeply personal look at Tiler’s journey beyond the stage lights and into the realities of her daily life. The film captures her recovery from a career-threatening injury and her transition into a new chapter as a choreographer and creative leader.

“This project is very personal and vulnerable,” Tiler shared. “It really shows me as a person, not just a dancer. That was a little bit scarier to say yes to, but I am really hoping the audience can relate to some of the things I go through.”

“I’m excited to hear their reactions,” she said. “It’s something I’ve seen only once or maybe two times," said Tiler. "So to be sitting and hearing in real time what the audience is feeling is going to be a wonderful and exciting thing for me to see.”

The evening captured everything we love about the San Francisco arts community: collaboration, creativity, and connection. The film left the audience inspired and reminded everyone that resilience and reinvention are at the heart of every great artist’s story.

From powerful documentaries to bite-sized shorts, the San Francisco Dance Film Festival brings dance to the big screen like never before. Whether you’re a longtime dance fan or just curious, there’s something here for everyone.

Since launching in 2010, the festival has become a creative hub for artists and audiences from around the world. It’s a place to celebrate bold ideas, discover new talent, and see dance in ways you might not expect.

What we most love about SFDFF is they shine a spotlight on fresh voices and give audiences a front-row seat to the future of movement, film, and everything in between. To find out more, click HERE!

Photos by Reneff-Olson Productions.