From a 12-hour cranial surgery as an infant to becoming a wrestling champion, “Standout: The Ben Kjar Story is an uplifting journey through adversity.
A documentary which tells the inspiring story of Ben Kjar, born with Crouzon Syndrome, a rare craniofacial disorder, it has won multiple festival awards including Spirit of Slamdance.
Combining powerful interviews with dramatic reenactments, and archival footage it follows Ben’s story as his parents are told at birth that his life would be dominated by limitations, bullying and harsh scrutiny.
5-year-old Colton was born with Crouzon Syndrome just like Ben, and plays Ben’s younger self in Standout.
Growing up, relentless bullying and a series of painful surgeries, ignited a fire within him and wrestling became his proving ground and through it, he learned to transform his facial difference into a source of power breaking through physical, social, and even romantic barriers
As challenges and ridicule resurface, Ben found himself at a defining crossroads: fade into the background of a “normal” life, or fully embrace his difference and boldly stand out.
Kjar turned to wrestling as his proving ground, transforming his physical differences into a source of inner strength. He defied expectations to become a three-time state champion and Utah Valley University’s first NCAA Division I All-American
In addition to archival footage and photos, the documentary relies on reenactments, with Colton Fielding playing a younger version of Ben. Like Ben, five-year-old Fielding was born with Crouzon syndrome.
“Standout” is the debut feature documentary of Tanner Christensen.
