Alex Cohen’s voice crackles down the line, filled with the kind of energy that suggests he’s ready to leap into action at any moment. He speaks quickly, his sentences punctuated by the same intensity he once brought to the squash court.
“I’ve been a squash player since I was 12,” Cohen begins, his voice laced with the nostalgia of a time when the game was simply about hitting the ball as hard as he could. “I played competitively in high school and continued at club level in college. Squash was my life back then.”
Today, Cohen is still chasing squash balls, but his aspirations have expanded far beyond the court. As a filmmaker, Cohen has embarked on a journey to bring squash to the big screen, a mission fuelled by both his passion for the sport and his love for storytelling.
His short film, Crack Shot, is just the start. It’s a tightly shot, intense portrayal of the game he loves, and Cohen hopes it will serve as a stepping stone toward something even bigger—a feature film that not only showcases squash but captures its essence in a way that could resonate with a global audience.
“Squash is a hard sport to film,” Cohen admits, his voice firm over the phone. “The ball is small, the space is confined, and the action is fast. When you just let people play naturally, it’s almost impossible to keep up. The camera needs to be in the right place at the right time to make sure everything is legible.”
It’s a challenge Cohen has embraced with the same intensity he once brought to the court. He and his cinematographer spent weeks choreographing shots, meticulously planning every point to ensure the action remained fluid and engaging.
“We had to choreograph the points,” Cohen explains. “It was about making the game legible and exciting, not just for people who already love squash, but for those who’ve never seen it played before.”
Cohen’s approach to Crack Shot was rooted in authenticity, a commitment to capturing the sport as it is experienced by its players. “The sound of the ball hitting the wall, the echo in the court—those are things that make squash so compelling,” he says. “We used foley artists to enhance the sounds, hitting balls against walls to capture that sharp, impactful noise. It’s about recreating the experience of being on the court.”
His enthusiasm is palpable, even through the phone. “I wanted the audience to feel the game, not just watch it.”
For Cohen, the project is more than just a cinematic challenge. It’s a personal mission to bring a sport he loves into the cultural spotlight. “I’ve always felt that squash deserved a bigger platform,” he says, his voice carrying the weight of years spent inside the four walls of a squash court.
“There’s this intensity and drama in squash that I think could really translate well to film. It’s a game of strategy and skill, but it’s also about endurance and mental toughness. Those are universal themes.”
Cohen’s journey from player to filmmaker is marked by a deep understanding of the sport’s nuances and the stories that lie beneath the surface. When he talks about his characters, it’s clear he’s not just thinking about what happens on the court.
“The story is everything,” Cohen says. “It’s not enough to show people how squash is played. You have to make them care about the people playing it. The best sports films are about more than just the game. They’re about the people, the struggles, the desire to win.”
The timing of Cohen’s project is serendipitous. With squash set to make its Olympic debut at the LA 2028 Games, Cohen sees an opportunity to introduce the sport to a wider audience. The coincidence of the Olympics being held in Los Angeles, the epicentre of the film industry, is not lost on him.
“When I found out squash was going to be in the Olympics, I couldn’t believe it,” Cohen says, his voice brightening. “It felt like the perfect moment to do this. LA is where movies are made, and now squash is going to be on the biggest stage in sports. It’s like everything has come together.”
Cohen envisions his film playing a role similar to what The Queen’s Gambit did for chess, or what Rocky did for boxing. “Squash has been fighting for recognition for years,” he says. “It’s a sport that’s popular in certain circles but doesn’t have the same mainstream appeal. I want my film to change that, to show people why squash is worth watching, why it’s exciting.”
Cohen speaks with the conviction of someone who sees the potential for his film to create a cultural shift. “It’s about more than just showing squash; it’s about telling a story that resonates.”
The idea of using a film to bring a sport into the limelight is not new, but Cohen’s approach is unique in its focus on authenticity and relatability. He wants his film to be more than just a showcase of the sport’s physical demands; he wants it to delve into the mental and emotional aspects of the game.
“Squash players are some of the most driven, intense people I know,” Cohen says. “There’s a lot of pressure, a lot of self-doubt. I want to show that side of it. The struggles, the conflicts, the mental battles—that’s where the real story is.”
Cohen’s short film, Crack Shot, served as a proof of concept, a way to demonstrate that squash could be both cinematic and engaging. But the real challenge lies ahead, in expanding the narrative into a full-length feature film. Cohen’s vision for the feature is ambitious, aiming to blend the intense, close-quarters action of squash with a compelling human drama.
“The feature will dive deeper into the characters’ lives,” Cohen says. “It’s about their journey, their struggles, and what drives them. It’s not just about winning or losing on the court; it’s about what it takes to get there.”
Cohen’s commitment to authenticity extends to his choice of actors. In Crack Shot, he cast real squash players, a decision driven by his desire to capture the sport’s intensity. “I wanted the intensity to feel real,” Cohen explains. “Squash is too specific to teach someone from scratch. The movements, the technique—it has to look authentic. I want the audience to feel like they’re watching real squash, not just actors pretending to play.”
Financing remains one of the biggest hurdles. Cohen is currently in the process of securing the funds needed to bring his feature film to life. He’s working with producers who have strong connections in the industry, and he’s optimistic about finding the right backers.
“We’re looking for people who see the potential,” Cohen says. “People who understand that this is more than just a movie about squash. It’s about telling a story that resonates, that has the power to reach people beyond the squash court.”
As we finish our conversation, Cohen reflects on the journey that lies ahead. It’s clear that this project is more than just a film for him—it’s a culmination of years of passion, both for squash and for storytelling.
“I’ve been dreaming about this for years,” Cohen says. “The idea that my film could help elevate squash, just as the world is discovering it on the Olympic stage, is incredible. It’s the kind of story that feels like it was meant to be.”
Cohen’s vision is clear, but the road ahead is still uncertain. There are challenges to be faced, funding to be secured, and countless hours of work before the film can become a reality. But even over the phone, his determination is palpable.
“This film is going to be a lot of people’s first real look at squash,” he says. “I want them to see what we see in the game—the intensity, the strategy, the passion. But more than that, I want them to see the stories behind the players. The struggles, the sacrifices, the moments of doubt and triumph. That’s what sports are really about, and that’s what this film will be about.”
In the world of independent filmmaking, where dreams and reality often collide, Cohen is carving out his own path—one that merges his love for squash with his passion for storytelling. Whether his film will achieve the impact he hopes for remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Alex Cohen is a man on a mission, and he’s not about to let anything stand in his way.
Watch the short – Crackshot – below
