BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES DOCUMENTARY

BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES DOCUMENTARY

Filmmakers to create first feature-length documentary film of the iconic Boston Marathon

BOSTON, MA – 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™ 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 – 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 Once…  about the Jewish Holocaust and its lasting effect on Hungary as well as the award winning Bound by Fleshexecutive produced by Academy Award winner Robert Zemeckis.

Producer – 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 Oscars^TM, 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.