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BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES DOCUMENTARY
Filmmakers to create first feature-length
documentary film of the iconic Boston
Marathon
BOSTON,
MA ÛÓ The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) announced today that it
has entered into an agreement with LA Roma Films, to produce
“Boston” the first ever feature-length documentary film about the Boston Marathon – the world’s most legendary running race.
Directed by Jon Dunham, award winning filmmaker/marathoner of the critically acclaimed
Spirit of the Marathon films, and produced by Academy Award㢠nominee
Megan Williams, the film is expected to be released in late 2015.
“We are fortunate to be working with Jon Dunham and LA Roma Films on this project,” said
Joann Flaminio, president, B.A.A. “Their unique and extensive understanding and knowledge of the marathon promises to make “Boston” a highly anticipated film experience.”
The film will document many of the historic moments of the Boston Marathon from its founding through today.
“Boston” will capture the spirit of the individuals and
communities who have long-made the race a world-renowned athletic event,
while also paying tribute to the tragic events of 2013.
The
film will include an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the major
organizational efforts to prepare for the race, dramatic moments from
past Boston Marathons
as told by former champions and competitors, and contemporary stories
of runners and spectators who have unique relationships with the race.
“We know the world’s connection to the Boston Marathon is stronger today than ever,” said
Tom Grilk, executive director, B.A.A. “We look forward to an
exciting movie that tells of Boston’s colorful 118-year history, and
shows the strength of spirit of those who make this race a success.”
The B.A.A. granted LA Roma Films exclusive documentary rights to the 2014 race.
“We are honored to tell the story of this world
famous race,” said director Jon Dunham. “We are looking for unique stories of the challenging journeys people have had on their way to qualifying for
the Boston Marathon, as well as personal accounts of last year’s event.”
For more information, or to share your personal story of Boston please contact info@laromafilms.com.
About the Filmmakers
Producer,
Director, Cinematographer ÛÓ Jon Dunham: A Southern California
native, Jon Dunham began making films at 13. He immediately fell in
love with the art form and soon chose to pursue filmmaking as a career.
The decision led him to the University of Southern
California’s prestigious School of Cinematic Arts where he graduated in
2000. Following film school he was chosen by Top Value Television
pioneer Megan Williams as the cinematographer for
Tell Me Cuba, a documentary about the difficult and complex
relations between the United States and Cuba. The collaboration
continued with Jon’s directorial debut,
No Distance Too Far, a documentary featuring four individuals
whose lives had been touched by AIDS as they took part in the California
AIDS Ride. Involving 3,000 cycling participants and nearly 600 miles
of California’s coast and central valley, the
film previewed the epic subjects and personal human stories that have
become a hallmark of Jon’s work and was featured in the International
Documentary Association’s 2002 Doctober festival of outstanding films.
Pictured: Director/Marathoner Jon Dunham (right) with Johnny Kelley “the Elder” at Boston in 200.
Teamed with
three-time Academy Award winner Mark Jonathan Harris, who would
executive produce Jon’s next two films, the five-year journey of
shooting and directing
Spirit of the Marathon began. Premiering at the 2007 Chicago
International Film Festival, the film won the coveted Audience Award and
was subsequently released in more than 400 cinemas across the United
States by National CineMedia in a unique satellite
distribution event, which grossed $1 million dollars in two nights.
The film has been distributed theatrically and broadcast globally and
has since been followed-up by
Spirit of the Marathon II, which was released in more than 600 cinemas in June 2013.
In addition to directing, Jon continues to work as a cinematographer. He has recently shot the documentaries
There Was OnceÛ¢ about the Jewish Holocaust and its lasting effect on Hungary as well as the award winning
Bound by Flesh executive produced by Academy Award winner Robert Zemeckis.
Producer ÛÓ Megan Williams:
Megan Williams is the recipient of
numerous awards including an Academy Award Nomination, and the Alfred I.
duPont – Columbia University School of Journalism Award. In 2002 she
teamed with director Jon Dunham to produce
No Distance Too Far: A film of California Aids Ride 8 an
official selection of the IDA 6th Annual Documentary Showcase. Her work
covers a variety of topics and events including: the Democratic and
Republican Conventions, the Super Bowl, the OscarsTM,
Bob Dylan’s Hard Rain Concert, HIV/AIDS and childhood deafness.
From
1996-2000, Williams served as adjunct professor at the University of
Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. Her work in the 1970’s
as co-founder and
partner of TVTV – one of the first independent documentary video
organizations – is featured in
Subject to Change: Guerrilla Television Revisited by Deirdre
Boyle, Oxford University Press, 1997; and was showcased in a major
retrospective at the Museum of Television and Radio, New York City. The
TVTV archive is in the permanent collection of the
Pacific Film Archive, University of California, Berkeley.
In
1982, in response to her then infant son’s diagnosis of profound
hearing loss, Williams founded TRIPOD, a non-profit organization for
deaf children and their families. The TRIPOD
school has become a part of the Burbank, California Unified School
District and serves as a model program for deaf educators and parents of
deaf children worldwide. The TRIPOD archive is in the permanent
collection of Wallace Library, NTID/RIT, Rochester,
NY.
About the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.)
Established
in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization
with a mission of managing athletic events and promoting a healthy
lifestyle through sports, especially running. The
B.A.A.’s Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon, and the
organization manages other local events and supports comprehensive
charity, youth, and year-round running programs. Since 1986, the
principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon has been John
Hancock Financial. The Boston Marathon is part of the World Marathon
Majors, along with the international marathons in Tokyo, London, Berlin,
Chicago, and New York City. More than 60,000 runners will participate
in B.A.A. events in 2014. The 118th
Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 21, 2014. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit
www.baa.org.
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