A new documentary, Sumo: Spirit Weighs Nothing, directed by Erik Shirai, is premiering at the Venice Film Festival, offering rare access to elite sumo wrestlers and hopefuls as they train and compete. Produced for ESPN's 30 For 30 strand, the film explores the brutal physical demands of the sport alongside its deep roots in Japanese culture and values, giving audiences an unusually intimate portrait of a discipline that has changed little over centuries.

Shirai, who grew up with sumo playing in the background at his Japanese American grandmother's house, began working on the project in 2019 and was struck by the violence of the collisions and the training regimes, which often cause concussions. The film highlights that sumo has no weight categories, meaning wrestlers can face opponents two or three times their size, exemplified by 15-year-old competitor Kosei, who weighs just 70kg. Shot in sepia-toned, nostalgic visuals to reflect the sport's timelessness, the documentary premieres on Wednesday night in Venice.