OVERHAND
A sports drama feature film.
When a closeted championship boxer is forced to fake a relationship to secure his title shot, he must choose between the life he's built in the ring and the love he's hidden outside of it — before the truth destroys them both.
Synopsis.
Benny "The Bomb" Bondarino is a 29-year-old welterweight fighter with a killer overhand right and a secret that could destroy his career. He's been sleeping with Jack France, an elementary school art teacher, since they were teens — but in the brutally homophobic world of professional boxing, being gay means being finished.
When rumors about Benny's sexuality threaten to derail his shot at a title fight against champion Santana "The Shark" Vasquez, his promoter and ruthless father-coach Vito force him into a fake relationship with Christina Marlow, a kind-hearted baker still healing from her own trauma.
As Benny juggles his secret life with Jack and his public romance with Christina, the lies pile up. Christina begins to genuinely fall for him. Jack grows increasingly resentful of being hidden. And Benny's performance in the ring starts to suffer as the pressure mounts.
When the truth finally explodes — leaked by someone close to Christina — Benny faces his biggest fight: not in the ring, but with himself. In a devastating title match, Benny knocks Santana into a coma with a punch fueled by rage and shame. The victory is hollow, the belt meaningless.
As Santana fights for his life in the hospital, Benny confronts the wreckage he's caused. Through unexpected grace from Santana's family, a painful reckoning with his father, and the possibility of forgiveness from those he hurt, Benny learns that the hardest fight is the one for the right to be yourself — and that true strength isn't about hiding who you are, but revealing it.
Why Now?
Queer Sports Is Having A Moment.
In an age where athletes are coming out across every sport, boxing remains the final frontier. Overhand speaks to a cultural moment where visibility matters, and the cost of secrecy is no longer sustainable.
Toxic Masculinity In Focus.
As conversations around toxic masculinity evolve, this film explores how traditional ideas of manhood — especially in hyper-masculine spaces like boxing — harm everyone trapped inside them.
More Than A Coming Out Story.
Most LGBTQ+ films focus on the journey of coming out. Overhand explores what comes after: navigating career, relationships, and self-worth when the world demands you choose between authenticity and survival.
Representation In Boxing.
Boxing films have celebrated every kind of underdog except this one. Overhand brings a fresh, urgent perspective to a beloved genre while honoring its traditions.
Interested in working together? We are actively looking for co-producers and other partners to help bring Overhand to life.
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