Katie Bender Wynn

Before becoming a filmmaker, Katie Bender Wynn was a competitive gymnast who attended Methodist Ladies’ College in Melbourne, Australia, where she trained at a high-performance gymnastics facility on campus. At 16, she was recruited by the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia through a talent identification program designed to transition elite gymnasts into aerial freestyle skiing, earning a place on Australia’s internationally renowned National Aerial Ski Team, the "Flying Kangaroos." Multiple knee injuries forced her retirement, ending her pursuit of the Olympic Games. Her experience as an elite athlete continues to shape her filmmaking, driving a storytelling approach that explores the human stories behind sport and culture. Beyond directing, Bender Wynn is a TEDx speaker and advocate for women in sport. She has appeared on panels for international film festivals, Variety, Women In Film, and Australian Parliament House. She is a member of the Directors Guild of America, the Australian Directors Guild, and the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts, and is represented by William Morris Endeavor.