DIRECTOR BILL GALLAGHER'S AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY 'RUNNER' ON ONE MARATHONER'S JOURNEY FROM REFUGEE TO OLYMPIAN TO HAVE VIRTUAL CINEMA RELEASE STARTING FRIDAY, JUNE 19
TIMED WITH WORLD REFUGEE DAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 20; SHARE OF THE PROCEEDS FROM THE RELEASE WILL BENEFIT REFUGEE ORGANIZATIONS, MARATHONS & RUNNING GROUPS
Runner follows the incredible story of Guor Marial the South Sudanese Lost Boy who survived slavery and a brutal war that took 8 of his 9 siblings to become an Olympic athlete
Now Airman First Class in the United States Air Force, Guor Marial is Training for the 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympics – He is Available for Interview
Watch Now: Trailer for Runner as seen first on The Playlist
From the distribution team behind the record-breaking independent sports documentary The Russian Five - one of the highest-grossing documentaries of 2019
VIRTUAL CINEMA RELEASE - LAUNCHES THIS FRIDAY, JUNE 19
100+ Participating Theaters and Organizations Announced - More TBA Soon
Participating movie theaters include:
Laemmle Theaters (California)
(with theaters in CLAREMONT, GLENDALE, LOS ANGELES, SANTA MONICA, SANTA CLARITA, NORTH HOLLYWOOD, PASADENA, ENCINO)
Alamo on Demand / Alamo Drafthouse
(with theaters in AUSTIN, CHARLOTTESVILLE, CORPUS CHRISTI, DALLAS/FT. WORTH, DENVER, EL PASO, HOUSTON, KANSAS CITY, LAREDO, LOS ANGELES, LUBBOCK, NEW BRAUNFELS, NEW YORK CITY / BROOKLYN / STATEN ISLAND / YONKERS, NORTHERN VIRGINIA, OMAHA, ORLANDO, PHOENIX, RALEIGH, SAN ANTONIO, SAN FRANCISCO, SPRINGFIELD, ST. LOUIS, TWIN CITIES, WINCHESTER)
Emagine Theaters
(with theaters in MICHIGAN, ILLINOIS, MINNESOTA, WISCONSIN)
Galaxy Theaters
(with theaters in CALIFORNIA, NEVADA, TEXAS, ARIZONA, WASHINGTON),
Plus
The Cabot (BEVERLY, MA), Grand Cinema (TACOMA, WA), Riverview (MINNEAPOLIS, MN), Farmington Theater (MICHIGAN), Red River Theater (CONCORD, NH), Cleveland Cinemas (OHIO), Sunrise Theater, C.U. Boulder (COLORADO), Tull Family Theater (SEWICKLEY, PA), Liberty Hall Cinema (LAWRENCE, KS), Rafael Film Center (SAN RAFAEL / SF BAY AREA, CA), Michigan Theater, Pickford Film Center (BELLINGHAM, WA), Cinestudio (HARTFORD, CT), Tampa Theatre (FLORIDA), Fort Wayne Cinema Center (INDIANA), and The Flicks (BOISE, ID).
Participating film festivals and societies include:
Detroit Freep Film Festival, Berkshire International Film Festival, FilmScene, Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, DocLands Film Festival, Fairhope Film Festival, FilmScene, Heartland Film, and Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival.
Participating marathons and running clubs include:
Cherry Blossom Run (Washington, DC), Detroit Freep Marathon, Rugged Races/Fargo marathon, Frankfort New Lenox Running Club, Ottawa Marathon, Portland Marathon, Revel Race Series, Seattle Marathon, Twin Cities Marathon, and VA Momentum.
SYNOPSIS
When he was only eight, Guor Mading Maker (formerly known as Guor Marial) ran from capture in war-torn Sudan to eventually seek safety in the US. In his new life, Maker began running again, participating in high school track and field and eventually becoming a sensation and qualifying for the 2012 Olympics. But because the newly formed South Sudan was not recognized by the International Olympic Committee, Maker had to fight to compete independently, refusing to run for Sudan and taking a stand against its oppression.
Runner depicts Maker’s difficult and triumphant journey from refugee to world-renowned athlete, told in intimate interviews with gorgeously animated flashbacks of Guor’s upbringing and culminating in a heart-wrenching reunion with his parents after a 20-year separation. His story is a distinctly inspirational one in which the indomitable human spirit emerges against all odds.
DIRECTOR'S QUOTE
"Runner is about the ability to hope and the capacity to thrive even after enduring the most oppressive circumstances. It’s about letting the pain of our past propel us into turning negative circumstances into something positive. The film’s protagonist, Guor Maker, is a refugee who endured unimaginable suffering, yet he willed himself into becoming an Olympian and used that platform to help inspire others. Hope is what we need right now and I couldn’t be happier to share this film with the world at this moment."
– Bill Gallagher, director of Runner
DISTRIBUTOR QUOTES
"We specifically chose Runner as our second release to cement our Virtual Cinema for Good concept. We will not only be bringing the incredibly inspiring story of Guor Maker to audiences we will also be instantly connecting them with non profits and running communities where they can make a difference and be a part of the global solution instantly."
– Jenny Feterovich, Muse Production House, co-distributor of Runner
"Bill has spent the last 7 years of his life making Runner and we are very honored and humbled to help him introduce this beautiful documentary to the world. I truly believe Guor's story is good medicine in these difficult times. Never give up. Stay focused. And every day put the shoes on and run."
– Steve Bannatyne, Lucky Hat Entertainment, co-distributor
ABOUT FILM SUBJECT GUOR MAKER
• Qualified for the Olympics in his first ever marathon
• Competed in the 2012 London Olympics as an Independent Olympic Athlete
• He competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics as part of the first ever team from South Sudan, where he was the flagbearer for his country.
• Now attempting to qualify for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics for Team USA
• Guor joined the United States Air Force in 2017 because he wanted to “give back” to the United States: https://www.afimsc.af.mil/
• Attended high school in Concord, New Hampshire
• Received a full running scholarship to Iowa State where he ran to All-American honors
FILM FESTIVALS AND AWARDS
Official Selection – Heartland Film Festival
Winner – Audience Award, plus Opening Night Film – Woods Hole Film Festival
Closing Night Film - Big Sky Film Festival
Winner – Audience Award, Best Documentary Jury Prize – Naples International Film Festival
Opening Night Film – DocLands Film Festival
Winner - Audience Award 2nd Place & Best Human Spirit Film - Breckenridge Film Festival
Official Selection - Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
Official Selection - Margaret Mead Film Festival
Winner - Special Jury Commendation - Port Townsend Film Festival
Winner - Audience Award, Best New England Filmmaker - Newburyport Documentary Film Festival
Winner - Best Feature Film - Lone Star Film Festival
Winner - Best Documentary – Fairhope Film Festival
OFFICIAL FILM WEBSITE
RunnerDoc.com
PRESS MATERIALS / DOWNLOADS
https://www.runnerdoc.com/
PRESS CONTACT
Adam J. Segal • The 2050 Group - Publicity
212.642.4317 (Office) • 202.422.4673 (Cell)
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. • www.