Artists Equity, Hidden Content, Ultraboom Media And Icki Eneo Arlo Partner On Doc ‘Shot in the Dark’, Following First U.S. Paralympic Blind Soccer Team

Artists Equity, the independent, artist-led studio founded by Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Gerry Cardinale, has partnered with Hidden Content and UltraBoom Media to produce the documentary Shot in the Dark, joining Robert Pattinson’s Icki Eneo Arlo. The feature follows the first U.S. Paralympic Blind Soccer team from their historic roots in 2022 to their attempt to shock the world and win gold at the 2028 Paralympic Games. The film is being co-directed by Jay Shapiro and Adam Donald.

“What drew us to Shot in the Dark was not only our absolute awe of the sport, but the extraordinary athletes themselves. The skill, trust, and courage it takes to compete at this level is something most of us can barely imagine,” said Matt Damon, Chief Creative Officer of Artists Equity. “Telling stories like this is exactly why Artists Equity exists, and we’re thrilled to partner with UltraBoom, Hidden Content, and Icki Eneo Arlo to bring it to the screen.”

Hidden Content has been filming with the team since its formation, first ever tryouts in late 2022 with cooperation from team’s governing organization, the United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA). 

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to follow a team from day one tryouts for almost six years to the biggest stage imaginable,” said Hidden Content’s Gentile. “You see them all grow as players, a team, and as individuals on and off the field.”

Hidden Content’s Donald, Ant Gentile, and Jake Wasserman are producing alongside Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Kyle Wheeler of Artists Equity, UltraBoom Media’s Erik Osterholm, Michael Simkin, Carrie Kaylor, and Zach Kazin, and Robert Pattinson and Brighton McCloskey from Icki Eneo Arlo.   

“The practices and games are so exciting to watch. Seeing these players in action captures the undeniable thrill of athletic competition alongside a truly triumphant determination of will, reiterating the more beautiful traits of human striving,” said Pattinson. 

Blind soccer is an electrifying five vs. five game in which four blind players and a sighted goalkeeper rely on instinct, trust, and sound. The ball itself rattles as it moves, while sideline guides and keepers call out real-time strategy. Matches unfold in near-total silence, the crowd holding its breath so players can track every chime until a goal shatters the stillness. Against this charged backdrop, the film follows a team pushing through grueling training camps and high-stakes international tournaments, fighting to climb the world rankings. Off the field, their lives are just as dynamic: some are becoming fathers, others are navigating personal hardships, and all are redefining what it means to represent the United States as Paralympic athletes.

“From the moment we heard about this team and the players, we knew this was one of those rare sports stories that transcends wins and losses and exemplifies the human spirit,” said UltraBoom Media’s Osterholm. “This team’s  journey has the power to connect with audiences, whether you’re an avid sports fan or not.”  

“Shot in the Dark is a chance for the world to see what this organization sees every day, extraordinary athletes competing at the highest level with skill, trust, and courage,”  said Michael Holmes, Interim Executive Director of the United States Association of Blind Athletes, “We hope this film not only shares their stories, but inspires the next generation of blind and visually impaired athletes to chase their own dreams. We’re deeply grateful to Artists Equity, UltraBoom Media, Hidden Content, and Icki Eneo Arlo for believing in the first-ever USA Blind Soccer Men’s National Team as they prepare to make history at LA28.”

Watch The Trailer:

About Artists Equity

Artists Equity is an independent, artist-led studio reimagining the relationship between talent, studio, brands, and distributors. Across Scripted, Unscripted, and Advertising divisions, the company prioritizes talent through an innovative model that allows all parties to realize the value they bring to a project. It was co-founded in November 2022 by Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Gerry Cardinale of RedBird Capital. Artists Equity’s latest scripted film is the Netflix global chart-topper The Rip, starring Affleck, Damon, Steven Yeun, and Teyana Taylor. Other titles include The Accountant 2, The Instigators, Unstoppable, and Air, as well as the upcoming Animals, directed by Affleck, who stars alongside Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson, and Steven Yeun. Artists Equity’s documentaries include the acclaimed Kiss the Future, Believers: Boston Red Sox, The Merchants of Joy, and SXSW award winner The Python Hunt. Its Advertising division has produced four consecutive Super Bowl campaigns for Dunkin’, and one for Stella Artois. Artists Equity has multi-year film deals with Sony Pictures for theatrical and Netflix for streaming.

About UltraBoom Media

UltraBoom Media (UBM) is a full-service production company and premium content studio developing and producing original series, films, and branded entertainment across top platforms. UBM is a global leader in food, travel, sports, and lifestyle content, having shot on all seven continents, in 140 countries, and in 400 languages, bringing along a network of best-in-class creatives, producers, and storytellers from around the world. With access as a key tenet of the company, we have relationships with some of the best talent in the world — from athletes and chefs to artists, musicians, innovators, business leaders, scientists, and more. UBM was founded by Erik Osterholm, a multi-Emmy award winning longtime Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown producer/director; Down To Earth co-creator Michael Simkin; veteran media and creative executive Carrie Kaylor; and Oscar- and Emmy-nominated filmmaker Omar Mullick.

About Hidden Content

HIDDEN CONTENT is a full-service development and production studio based in New York, Los Angeles and Mexico City. Hidden has produced award-winning films that have premiered at Sundance, Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Cannes and more, including their latest film Rotting in The Sun, which premiered to critical acclaim at Sundance in 2023, and was nominated for 3 Independent Spirit Awards. Hidden has also produced and directed branded content campaigns for some of the world’s leading brands, including Nike, Google, The North Face, United Airlines, Sprite, Conde Nast, Netflix and Samsung. In early 2020, Hidden produced the “The Spirit of Conviction” web series for Wild Turkey starring Matthew McConaughey, which won the Webby Award for Best Documentary (Branded).

About Icki Eneo Arlo

Icki Eneo Arlo is a production company founded by actor Robert Pattinson.

About the United States Association of Blind Athletes

The United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) empowers Americans who are blind and visually impaired to experience life-changing opportunities in sports, recreation, and physical activities, thereby educating and inspiring the nation. Founded in 1976 by Dr. Charles Buell, USABA is a Colorado Springs-based 501(c)(3) organization and a member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and U.S. Soccer, certified by the USOPC as the national governing body for the Paralympic team sports of goalball and blind soccer. Since its founding, USABA has reached more than 100,000 individuals, serving athletes of all ages and abilities from grassroots programs to the Paralympic Games. USABA receives no direct government funding and is powered by the generosity of donors, partners, and volunteers. Learn more at usaba.org and follow USABA on social media.

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