Tamara Susa Wins Portrait of an Individual at 2025 MY HERO International Film Festival

Steve Karczewski, outdoor athlete, on the slopes. Courtesy of Tamara Susa

Colorado photographer and filmmaker Tamara Susa has won the Portrait of an Individual Award at the 2025 MY HERO International Film Festival for her short documentary, 2 Legs is 2 Easy. The film follows Steve Karczewski, an outdoor athlete and adventurer who just happens to have one leg.

Courtesy of Tamara SusaSteve Karczewski

Steve Karczewski was born with bone cancer in his left leg. For the first year of his life, he underwent rounds of chemotherapy, and his family travelled across the country with him in search of a cure. Fearing that the cancer might spread, doctors decided that the safest course of action would be to amputate the leg above the knee. Having never known any different, Karczewski didn’t let his disability stop him from doing all the things he loved; namely skiing and mountain biking. He worked hard to build up the strength to be able to ski without a prosthetic leg, and quickly became one of the most talented athletes on the slopes.

Director Tamara Susa met Karczewski ten years ago through their mutual love of mountain biking. They became fast friends, and Susa began taking her camera each time they went biking or skiing together. “I didn’t have a script or a plan,” Susa told MY HERO, “Just a deep feeling that his story mattered.”

Courtesy of Tamara SusaSteve Karczewski moutain bikes wearing his prosthetic leg.

It wasn’t just Karczewski’s ability to adapt that drew Susa to him, but his unmatched talent as an athlete. Said Susa

He doesn’t stand out because of what he’s missing. He stands out because he is simply better than most people around him. He skis some of the steepest, deepest terrain on the mountain, and he rides a bike the same way — charging big lines, hitting big jumps, moving with confidence and joy. That was something I felt was missing from most disability stories. I didn’t want to make a film about limitation. I wanted to make a true adventure film — the kind you’d see in any major ski or bike production — where the athlete just happens to have one leg.

In fact, Karczewski’s talent was one of the biggest challenges that Susa faced in capturing footage for the film. “One of the biggest challenges was keeping up with Steve. I’m a snowboarder, and he is fast — really fast — so I couldn’t shoot the follow-cam myself,” she explained.

Courtesy of Tamara SusaSteve Karczewski mid-jump on the slopes.

Though Karczewski’s speed on the slopes created its own challenges in capturing the film, his talent is exactly why Susa felt the film was so important. She explained

At the heart of 2 Legs Is 2 Easy is a simple but powerful idea: that disability does not have to define or limit what is possible. As Steve says in the film, “it’s a mindset.” I hope this film helps shift how people see disability, sport, and possibility — through respect, awe, and a recognition of true athleticism.

On receiving the MY HERO Portrait of an Individual award, Susa said

Being honored by your festival with the Portrait of an Individual award is especially meaningful to me, because that is exactly what I hoped this film would be — not a category, not a label, but a deeply human portrait of one extraordinary person.

Watch 2 Legs is 2 Easy here.

Explore Tamara Susa’s website here.

About the MY HERO International Film Festival

The MY HERO International Film Festival is an annual event dedicated to showcasing films that celebrate the power of the human spirit. The festival provides a platform for filmmakers to share inspirational stories of everyday heroes. Thanks to generous sponsors, prizes are awarded to elementary, middle school, high school, college and professionals in a variety of categories including documentary, narrative, music video, animation, experimental, and more.

The festival aims to inspire audiences to recognize the heroism in their own lives and encourage positive actions in their communities. Learn more.