MAN RUNNING premieres on CBC and CBC Gem Saturday, August 17 (9 p.m./10 AT/10:30 NT/11 PT).
Man Running received 7 ROSIE nominations at this years AMPIA Awards. The film was nominated for Best Dramatic Feature at the 2019 Alberta Film & Television Awards (the Rosies) and Rand received a 2019 ACTRA Award nomination for his role.
MAN RUNNING premiered at the 2018 Whistler Film Festival.
MAN RUNNING premieres on CBC and CBC Gem Saturday, August 17 (9 p.m./10 AT/10:30 NT/11 PT).
MAN RUNNING is directed by Gary Burns (Waydowntown), written by Donna Brunsdale (A Problem with Fear) and produced by Avi Federgreen (Kiss and Cry, One Week) in association with Telefilm Canada and with the participation of the CBC. The film stars Gord Rand (An Audience of Chairs), Ivana Shein (Meadowland) and Milli Wilkinson (Riverdale).
SYNOPSIS
A doctor runs in a grueling 24-hour, 100-mile ultra-marathon over rugged mountain terrain as he avoids the aftermath of a recent incident in his medical practice. Over the course of the race, as physical and mental exhaustion turns to fantasies and hallucinations, race-related dramas intertwine with the details of his current crisis. He’s tormented by his decision to assist in the death of a terminally-ill teenager, against both the parents’ wishes and the legal parameters of assisted suicide.
Gord Rand stars as Jim
Gord is an actor, playwright and filmmaker. He has performed on stages around the world, from San Francisco to Rwanda, including 9 seasons at The Shaw Festival. Most recently, he played the title role in Oedipus Rex at The Stratford Festival and Hamlet for Necessary Angel at the Worldstage. He won a Dora Award for his portrayal of a naked Ukranian plutonium dealer in Michael Healey’s The Innocent Eye Test (Mirvish). He also toured the world with Goodness (Volcano Theatre), and appeared in The Test (The Company), The Philanderer (Shaw Festival) and Abyss (Tarragon). Recent screen appearances include: Ben in the upcoming movie An Audience of Chairs and The Man in Gary Burns’ new film Man Running, Abel in CBC’s Pure, Detective Duko in Orphan Black (CSA Nomination, ACTRA Award Nomination), as well as guest starring on Ransom, Taken, Wynonna Earp, Cardinal, Durham County, Cracked, Killjoys and was RSM Kelly in the ABC series Combat Hospital.
Gord recently completed his first feature documentary Goodness in Rwanda as well as garnering controversy and praise for his plays Orgy in the Lighthouse, Pond Life, and the recently published The Trouble with Mr Adams (Scirocco Dramax). He has just completed his next feature film - based on his 2005 hit play Pond Life - and is writing a new play - The Recline of the American Empire - with Storefront Theatre.
Gord feels he is lucky: he lives in downtown Toronto, grows his own hot peppers, has a lovely wife, two beautiful boys and a very large dog.
Ivana Shein in Man Running as a Runner
Ivana Shein is a Canadian born writer/actress. As a performer, Ivana began her career in Canada when she appeared on the “Last Comic Standing” style TV talent competition show SKETCH TROOP. She would go on to appear at major comedy festivals including the celebrated Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. Her one- woman show was subsequently picked up and directed by Emmy award winner Richard J. Lewis and performed at Comedy Central Stage in Los Angeles. Ivana made her feature film debut in Lucky McKee's cult horror classic THE WOODS with Patricia Clarkson. She then appeared in Mark Adam's award-winning film STEEL TOES with David Strathairn and Andrew Walker. Big screen credits include Richard J. Lewis' Oscar nominated BARNEY'S VERSION with Paul Giamatti and Dustin Hoffman and McKee's RED with Brian Cox and Tom Sizemore, as well as Reed Morano’s stunning meditation on grief MEADOWLAND with Olivia Wilde, Luke Wilson and John Leguizamo. She returned to the horror genre in Mickey Keating’s PSYCHOPATHS with Ashley Bell which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival. She just recently wrapped production on the feature film HOME SWEET DEADLY HOME with Patty McCormack. She is thrilled to be acting in Gary Burn’s MAN RUNNING, and was deeply touched by the story helmed by Burns and Donna Brunsdale. Television credits include a recurring role on NBC's DAYS OF OUR LIVES and CBS's PERSON OF INTEREST as well as CBC’s THE DETECTIVES. She is also the lead in the sci-fi thriller THE DIVISION on Hulu.
Milli Wilkinson in MAN RUNNING
Gord Rand in MAN RUNNING
Gord Rand and Milli Wilkinson in MAN RUNNING
Photo by David Leyes
Avi Federgreen – Producer of MAN RUNNING
Avi Federgreen’s over twenty years of experience in the Canadian film industry includes over fifty films produced.
Federgreen’s newly completed films, which are travelling around the film festival circuit include Man Running directed by Gary Burns, Lifechanger directed by Justin McConnell, and Altered Skin directed by Adnan Ahmed. Federgreen also is the creator of the Indiecan10K & Indiecan20K First Feature Initiatives that have now helped 8 first features get made in Canada including the NWT film Elijah and the Rock Creature directed by Jennifer Walden and the Northern Ontario film Fugue directed by Tomas Street..
Federgreen's other producing credits include One Week, Still Mine, Kiss and Cry, Prisoner X, Score: A Hockey Musical, Relative Happiness, How To Plan An Orgy in A Small Town, Moon Point, I’m Yours, Hungry Hills, High Life, Leslie, My Name Is Evil to name a few.
In November 2011, Federgreen opened his own film distribution and sales company INDIECAN ENTERTAINMENT. The company services not just up-and-coming Canadian and International filmmakers, but also those indies making films in a lower budget bracket who have otherwise virtually no chance to shine in a market of big studios, distributors and exhibitors. Indiecan has now released over 100 films in Canada, over 50 films in the US and now represents 17 documentaries for International Sales.
Donna Brunsdale writer of Man Running, has made several short films and one feature film, Cheerful Tearful (1998). She has also collaborated with Gary Burns on most of his films, notably as co-
writer on A Problem With Fear (2003), and co-director on Flexie! All the Same and All Different (2015).
INDIECAN ENTERTAINMENT focuses on independent films. As a distributor, Avi Federgreen follows the same principle that earned him his reputation as a filmmaker; bringing Canadians films they want to watch. Aside from the traditional distribution route, INDIECAN leans heavily on digital delivery. INDIECAN helps films find more opportunities with audiences through TV, Netflix, iTunes, websites, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms. INDIECAN’s vision is to not only support indie production but to encourage the viewing of quality indie films by North American audiences. To date Indiecan has released over 125 films in Canada, over 70 films in the US and now represents documentaries and narrative films for International Sales.