Out Of Breath: Living with Sleep Apnea
Join us for a special screening of OUT OF BREATH, a powerful new documentary exploring the hidden human impact of obstructive sleep apnea. From award winning director George T. Nirenberg
Tuesday 29th September at 6pm at The Watershed Cinema, Bristol.
Limited seats and one night only: please book early
Film runtime: 83 minutes | Tickets £6.50 |Screening followed by panel discussion and drinks
Join The Better Sleep Clinic for a special screening of Out of Breath, followed by an expert panel discussion and post-show drinks.
Tuesday 29 September 2026 @ the Watershed, Bristol
Your ticket includes admission to the full documentary screening, an introduction from Dr David Garley, a post-film panel discussion and post-show drinks. Your tickets will be emailed to you closer to the event.
The Watershed is a fully accessible venue, with step-free access, wheelchair spaces, and induction loops in the cinema. If you have any additional accessibility needs for the evening, please get in touch at info@thebettersleepclinic.co.uk and we'll be happy to help.
Around one billion people worldwide live with sleep apnea, with most of these people undiagnosed. Out of Breath, from award-winning director George T. Nierenberg, is the first feature documentary to put that crisis on screen.
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that can greatly impact physical and mental health, as well as cause huge strains on relationships. People with the conditions are frequently dismissed as just tired, unmotivated, depressed or even lazy. Often many years go past without a diagnosis.
This film is an exploration of the condition from the point of view of four people with sleep apnea, that includes the honest and unfiltered views of their partners and family.
Join us at Watershed for a special screening of Out of Breath, followed by an expert discussion exploring the real-life impact of sleep apnea, why it is so often missed and how earlier recognition and treatment can change lives. There will also be chance to ask any questions on the film.
The evening will conclude with post-show drinks and an opportunity to continue the conversation with sleep experts from The Better Sleep Clinic team.
Please note: The Watershed is a fully accessible venue, with step-free access, wheelchair spaces, and induction loops in the cinema. If you have any additional accessibility needs for the evening, please get in touch at info@thebettersleepclinic.co.uk and we'll be happy to help.
The Film
Join The Better Sleep Clinic for a special screening of Out of Breath, followed by an expert panel discussion and post-show drinks.
Tuesday 29 September 2026 @ the Watershed, Bristol
Your ticket includes admission to the full documentary screening, an introduction from Dr David Garley, a post-film panel discussion and post-show drinks. Your tickets will be emailed to you closer to the event.
The Watershed is a fully accessible venue, with step-free access, wheelchair spaces, and induction loops in the cinema. If you have any additional accessibility needs for the evening, please get in touch at info@thebettersleepclinic.co.uk and we'll be happy to help.
Out of Breath saved my sanity. The film helped me realize I was a ‘co-apniast.’ A sleep test and CPAP machine gave us both peaceful nights. A true saving grace.
Vincent Virga,
Novelist, Gaywyck & A Comfortable Corner
The four sleep-deprived people profiled here film their own stories, lending intimacy and revelatory honesty to their plight.
Susan Farkas,
Emmy-Winning Filmmaker & Professor
Out of Breath saved my sanity. The film helped me realise I was a ‘co-apniast.’ A sleep test and CPAP machine gave us both peaceful nights. A true saving grace.
Susan Redline,
MD, MPH Professor of Sleep Medicine, Harvard
Meet the Characters
Victor, North Carolina, USA
Victor is a devoted husband, father and business owner whose severe sleep apnea is placing increasing strain on his marriage and family life. His story shows how loud snoring, disrupted sleep and persistent fatigue can affect not only the person with the condition, but everyone around them.
41 years old.
Danielle, Kent, England
Danielle is a single mother and caregiver whose sleep apnea leaves her struggling with overwhelming exhaustion. As she tries to support her two sons and continue in the job she loves, the film captures the emotional and practical toll the condition takes on her everyday life.
33 years old.
Billy, New Hampshire, USA
Billy is a former Marine and emergency medical driver whose sleep apnea became so severe that he feared falling asleep behind the wheel. After several unsuccessful treatments, he continues searching for a solution to his sleep apnea.
Mid 40's
Kalyn — California, USA
Kalyn is a young aspiring actress who has lived with sleep apnea since her teenage years. After hiding her diagnosis while dating, she must confront the impact of the condition on her confidence, treatment choices and relationship with her fiancée.
24 years oldWhat to expect
Film screening
Experience the full 83-minute documentary Out of Breath on the big screen at Bristol’s iconic Watershed Cinema. Directed by George T. Nierenberg, the film follows four people from different backgrounds whose health, relationships and everyday lives have been profoundly affected by sleep apnea.
Expert panel discussion
Following the film, Dr David Garley will chair a live panel discussion exploring the stories shown on screen and the wider issues surrounding sleep apnea.
The conversation will cover:
recognising the signs of sleep apnea
the physical and emotional impact of delayed diagnosis
experiences of CPAP and other treatments
barriers to diagnosis and care
the impact on partners and families
how we can improve public and professional awareness.
There will also be an opportunity for questions from the audience.
Post-show drinks
Continue the conversation over drinks after the panel session, with an opportunity to meet the panellists, members of The Better Sleep Clinic team and other guests.
Sleep Apnea Screening
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About the Director
George T. Nierenberg is an acclaimed documentary director and producer whose career has spanned independent film, network television and cable.
His previous work includes Say Amen, Somebody, No Maps on My Taps and That Rhythm, Those Blues. His films have been shown at major international festivals including Telluride, Toronto, London, Cannes, Berlin and Venice.
Out of Breath is also a deeply personal project. George has lived with sleep apnea for much of his adult life, and his own experience of delayed diagnosis inspired him to tell the story from a human rather than purely medical perspective.
To capture the reality of living with the condition, he invited the film’s four participants to document their own lives using mobile phones over a two-year period. The result is an intimate and honest portrait of how sleep apnea can affect health, relationships, work and identity.