Running the streets of Rome in 1960, an unknown, barefoot Ethiopian man stunned the world by winning Olympic gold in the marathon. Overnight, Abebe Bikila became a sports legend. A hero in his own country and to the continent, Bikila was the first African to win a gold medal and, four years later in Tokyo, the first person in history to win consecutive Olympic gold medals in the marathon. This soldier and quiet son of a shepherd is considered by many the greatest long-distance runner in history. But his life story only began with Olympic medals. One evening while returning to his home in Addis Ababa after training in the Ethiopian countryside, fate would present this remarkable champion with his greatest challenge.

A truly unique approach to the biographical picture, Atletu focuses on the final years of Bikila\'s life: His quest to regain Olympic glory, his tragic accident, and his determination to compete again. Atletu is an extraordinary narrative feature that seamlessly blends autobiography, biopic, drama and documentary. One of the audience favourites at the Edinburgh International Film Festival this year, we are delighted to present another opportunity to see this beautiful and moving independent film.

The screening of Atletu is kindly sponsored by Global Concerns Trust and Tools for Self Reliance. The Global Concerns Trust is a small International Development charity based in Edinburgh that partners grassroots project in India, Kenya and Malawi initiated by local activists. The charity's project in Malawi is in partnership with the Tools for Self Reliance (TFSR) workshops.


By Davey Frankel and Rasselas Lakew

Ethiopia/US/Germany | 1h29m | DigiBeta | English and Amharic with English subtitles | Rating 15 | Fiction

Original Title: Atletu

Country of origin: USA, Germany, Ethiopia
Genre: Fiction
Year: 2009

Director: Davey Frankel, Rasselas Lakew

Film: 35mm.
Format: Color
Duration: 93 min.

Direction: Davey Frankel, Rasselas Lakew
Screenplay: Rasselas Lakew, Davey Frankel, Mikael Amerio Awake
Cinematography:Philipp Pfeiffer, Rodney Taylor, Radoslav Spassov, Toby Moor
Edition: Davey Frankel, Matt Mayer
Score: Christian Meyer
Cast: Rasselas Lakew, Dag Malmberg, Ruta Gedmintas
Producer: Davey Frankel, Rasselas Lakew
Production: AV Patchbay, Cinema Aethiopica, Instinctive
World sales: Arrow Entertainment
steve-arroyave@arrow-entertainment.com
Site: www.arrow-entertainment.com