Foot Locker Inc., a New York-based specialty athletic retailer, and Asics America Corp. named the top five semi-finalists in this year’s “Real Lives. Real Runners.” campaign.
The program gave filmmakers the opportunity to capture documentary-style stories on real runners. The five filmmakers advancing from the open submission in July are Ashley Avis, Jose Mayorquin and Sean Brown, as well as two returning contenders from the 2015 competition, Joshua Traywick and Michael Medoway.
Today through October 20, the public can visit Foot Locker’s Facebook page to review each film and vote for their favorite via Facebook Poll. Once the voting period closes, Foot Locker and Asics America will fly the top three filmmakers and their subjects to New York City for an exclusive screening event on Wednesday, November 2.
At the conclusion of the screening, the winner will be selected by a panel of judges, including New York Road Runners President and CEO Michael Capiraso, Olympian and American half marathon record holder Ryan Hall and ESPN sports business reporter Darren Rovell. The event will be hosted by WABC-TV’s Eyewitness News Meteorologist and veteran marathoner Amy Freeze, who is slated to run the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon.
On Sunday, November 6, the winning film will air nationally during the live television broadcast of the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon on ESPN2 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. EST. In partnership with Mofilm, the winner will be awarded with a cash price and an all-expenses paid trip to Las Vegas to attend the annual Mofilm Awards.
“Foot Locker is thrilled to continue its partnership with Asics on the second-annual ‘Real Lives. Real Runners.’ campaign, in celebration of our TCS New York City Marathon sponsorship,” said Stacy Cunningham, vice president of marketing for Foot Locker. “This year’s talented group of semi-finalists have captured the inspiring and positive stories of real runners, and we are honored to have a platform to share the winning story during this year’s Marathon broadcast.”
“I am truly touched and inspired by the stories presented in the ‘Real Lives. Real Runners.’ program,” said Roeya Vaughan, vice president of marketing for Asics America. “Running can provide a range of benefits, extending beyond physical health into mental focus, emotional healing, inspiration and personal peace…all connected to our ASICS core belief of a sound mind and a sound body. We are proud to showcase the diversity of what it means to be a runner.”
To view the “Real Lives. Real Runners.” short films, visit poll.fbapp.io/rlrr2016. The top five spots are:
- Hope – Ashley Avis
- I Coach/Soy Entrenadora – Jose Mayorquin
- One More Step – Joshua Traywick
- The Art of Running – Michael Medoway
- Second Chances – Sean Brown
Foot Locker is part of Foot Locker Inc., a specialty athletic retailer that operates approximately 3,400 stores in 23 countries in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Through its Foot Locker, Footaction, Lady Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Champs Sports, SIX:02, Runners Point and Sidestep retail stores, as well as its direct-to-customer channels, including footlocker.com, Eastbay.com, SIX:02.com, runnerspoint.com and sidestep-shoes.com, the Company provides athletic footwear and apparel.
Asics was founded more than 60 years ago by Kihachiro Onitsuka and is now a designer and manufacturer of performance athletic footwear, apparel and accessories.
Mofilm is a content creation community that connects filmmakers and photographers from around the world with global brands to showcase talent and create innovative new ideas. Mofilm provides production grants along with mentoring and advice throughout the entire creative process. Clients utilize their work across digital, broadcast and cinema channels.
