Great film “Atletu” (Abebe Bikila) to screen in Californian cities beginning Nov 7

(Press Release) – “The Athlete” (“Atletu”) is the story of the remarkable life and career of Abebe Bikila (1932-1973), who became a hero to both his native country of Ethiopia and the continent of Africa, being the first Sub-Saharan African to win an Olympic Gold Medal. He won the gold as a barefoot marathon runner in Rome in 1960. He then repeated the feat in 1964 in Tokyo, winning a consecutive gold medal. Following a devastating injury, with grit and determination, resolve and an ingrained and unconquerable optimism, Bikila competed in new sports, archery (at the Paralympics in England) and dog sledding, winning The Ridderrennet in Norway.

The filmmakers are Davey Frankel and Rasselas Lakew, both of whom are credited as writers, directors and producers. Frankel is a Berlin-based New Yorker known for aural-visual creations. Lakew was born in Addis Ababa, studied film at the University of Montana and makes New York his home. “The Athlete” is the feature film debut for both. Lakew also stars as Bikila in this biopic, which was filmed on locations from the Arctic to the Equator, and meshes newsreel footage within its narrative sequences.

“The Athlete” is a tale of courage, of a true champion among men.

The film has won International Film Festival awards in Edinburgh, Stockholm, Rotterdam, the Berkshires, Nashville, Minneapolis and Tarifa (Spain). Now, local audiences have an opportunity to see it as part of a monthly series of screenings of festival award-quality films called Film Festival Flix at Laemmle Playhouse 7 in Pasadena, CA and Laemmle Noho 7 in North Hollywood, CA

On Wednesday, November 7th and Thursday, November 8th  red carpet arrivals at 7PM and the film will screen at 7:30PM, followed by filmmaker interview. The price of a ticket affords entry to the entire evening, including a ticketholder reception.

“The Athlete” (“Atletu”). A film by Davey Frankel and Rasseles Lakew. Stars Lakew, Dag Malmberg, Ruta Gedmintasand Abba Wakka Sessalegn. An AV Patchbay/ Cinema Aethiopica production with Instinctive Films. In Amharic and English, with English subtitles. 85 minutes. At Laemmle Playhouse 7, 673 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91101 On Wednesday, November 7th at 7:30PM.  OR At Laemmle Noho 7, 5240 Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA 91601 On Thursday, November 8th at 7:30PM. Ticketholders gain access to red carpet photos, filmmaker interview, and reception.  Tickets: $ 11.00. Available online at www.filmfestivalflix.com  or at Laemmle Playhouse 7 in Pasadena box office 626-844-6500 or at Laemmle Noho7 in North Hollywood box office 310-478-3836

FILM FESTIVAL FLIX THEATERS AND TIMES

Wednesday, November 7th

Pasadena

Laemmle’s Pasadena Playhouse

Thursday, November 8th

North Hollywood

Laemmle’s North Hollywood

Monday, November 12th

Salt Lake City

Brewvies Cinema Pub

New Orleans

Zeitgeist Theatre

Tuesday, November 13th

Denver

Denver Comedy Works

Wednesday, November 14th

Dubuque, IA

Mindframe Theatre

Monday, November 19th

San Francisco

Balboa Theatre

Tuesday, November 20th

O-Cinema

FOR TICKETS:

www.filmfestivalflix.com/film/the-athlete/

Source: EthioMedia.com