Foot Locker Inc. and Asics America Corp. named “Second Chances,” directed by filmmaker Sean Brown and produced by Stephanie Martucci, as the winner of the second-annual “Real Lives. Real Runners.” campaign.
The national contest invited filmmakers to capture inspirational running stories. The winning film aired during the broadcast of the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 6 on ESPN2 and WABC-TV from 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET.
The film features runner Matthew Williams, who will be running in the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon to honor his late father. Williams is in his sixth year of sobriety and during this journey, running has been more to him than just exercise – it’s a time of reflection, meditation and gratitude. His story aims to empower young adults to defeat addiction and get their second chance.
“We’re proud to partner with Asics to host a campaign that celebrates the running community by showcasing inspirational stories of real, everyday runners,” said Stacy Cunningham, vice president of marketing for Foot Locker. “We hope that ‘Second Chances,’ which will air during the TCS New York City Marathon, will encourage and motivate experienced and novice runners alike to be their best.”
This year’s program kicked off in July in partnership with MOFILM and provided filmmakers with the opportunity to capture documentary-style stories of runners, highlighting the positive impact running has had on their lives. The top three finalists’ videos were selected via a Facebook Poll on Foot Locker’s Facebook page and unveiled at an exclusive screening event in New York City hosted by Foot Locker and Asics America on November 2. The winning film was selected by a respected panel of judges, including New York Road Runners President and CEO Michael Capiraso, Olympian and American half marathon record holder Ryan Hall and BBDO Executive Creative Director Dan Lucey.
“Running can have a powerful and positive impact on both body and mind. The stories shared by this talented pool of filmmakers showcased the power of running in people’s lives,” said Roeya Vaughan, vice president of marketing for Asics America. “We are honored to partner with Foot Locker for the second consecutive year to help bring these stories to a wider audience. We hope that Sean Brown’s winning film reaches and inspires audiences around the world.”
To view the “Real Lives. Real Runners.” short films, including “Second Chances” visit: youtube.com/footlocker.
