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UK Premiere plus Director Q&A, presented by Official Olympic Poet Lemn Sissay
Town of Runners is a feature documentary about young runners from Bekoji - an Ethiopian highland town which has produced some of the world's greatest distance athletes, including Tirunesh Dibaba, Kenenisa Bekele and Derartu Tulu.
The film tells the story of two young girls, living in a rural town as they try to run their way to a different life.
Narrated by their friend Biruk, it follows their highs and lows over three years as they try to become professional athletes. Through their struggle, the film gives a unique insight into the ambitions of young Ethiopians living between tradition and the modern world.
Funded by ITVS and Channel 4 Britdoc, TOWN OF RUNNERS is a feature documentary by an award-winning director Jerry Rothwell (Donor Unknown, Heavy Load) about the young athletes born and raised in Bekoji, who hope to emulate their local heroes and compete on the world’s stage. Filmed over four years, the film follows their fortunes as they move from school track to national competition and from childhood to adulthood.
80mins film followed by a Q&A with director & producer (25mins) / UK / Director Jerry Rothwell
Lemn Sissay is a poet and playwright. He is associate artist at Europe’s largest arts complex, Southbank Centre. He is the first poet commissioned to write for the 2012 Olympics.
Town of Runners www.townofrunners.com
Dogwoof www.dogwoof.com
Lemn Sissay www.lemnsissay.com
