RUNNER 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

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

Official Film Website: RunnerDoc.com