The Boston Globe Debuts Boston Marathon Documentary, 5 Runners

BOSTON, April 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Boston Globe today announced the release of 5 Runners, a first-of-its-kind television documentary -- developed and directed by Emmy Award-winning Boston Globe print and digital journalists -- that profiles five 2013 Boston Marathon runners who were crossing the finish line as the first bomb exploded.

The 30-minute documentary, made possible by generous support from AT&T, explores the runners' personal journeys, as well as their shared mission to return and race the 2014 Boston Marathon. It will premiere at an advance public screening on Thursday, April 10 at 7 p.m. at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library. The event will also include a question and answer session following the screening. For more information about the film or to register for the advance screening, please visit 5runners.eventbrite.com.

The documentary will then air on Monday, April 14 at 9:30 p.m. on New England Sports Network (NESN), with additional airings before the April 21 Boston Marathon. It will remain available for on-demand viewing on BostonGlobe.com.

Produced, written, directed and edited by the Emmy-winning team of Globe arts reporter Geoff Edgers, and Globe videographer Darren Durlach, the film profiles five runners captured in the widely-seen footage of the first bomb's explosion: Demi Clark, Howard Mayes, Volker Fischer, Mary Jenkins and Brian Donovan. The groundbreaking documentary builds upon that iconic image with new content, originally produced by the Globe team, including never-before-seen runner interviews and video of their training. The documentary also features personal runner footage from that day, while integrating stock photography, archival newscasts, and Globe video from the 2013 Marathon to provide a 360-degree view of events as they unfolded.

"There are numerous documentaries focused on the alleged attackers, the play-by-play events of the day, and the FBI investigation," said 5 Runners co-director and Globe reporter Geoff Edgers. "This film is the first to offer a runner's point of view, from the inside, portraying what it was like to be at the scene of these attacks while crossing the finish line, and how the individuals involved are physically and emotionally preparing for this year's race."

AT&T has provided generous support for the film, as well as the April 10 premiere screening at JFK Library. The documentary's directors are also working on 5 Runners...The Return. The extended documentary will follow the runners as they achieve their goal of crossing the 2014 Boston Marathon finish line, and is set to air on NESN this summer.

5 Runners is The Boston Globe's first television documentary. The film is a unique collaboration between the Globe's digital and print teams, developed completely in-house, leveraging Globe staff resources, archives and insights from extensive coverage of the bombings over the last year. While 5 Runners is the Globe's first television documentary, it is the latest in a well-regarded, extensive portfolio of video content, which includes 20 New England Emmy Award-winning videos and one national Emmy-nominated video produced over the past six years.

"We are constantly developing new forms of digital storytelling," said Boston Globe Editor Brian McGrory. "This documentary commemorates a monumental moment in the history and psyche of the city of Boston, so we are delivering it to our readers and broader regional audiences on a new platform."

The film's directors, Edgers and Durlach, have received multiple regional Emmy Awards for their work with The Boston Globe. Edgers has also received numerous accolades for his 2010 documentary, Do It Again, about the rock band The Kinks, and served as writer and host of the Travel Channel reality series, "Edge of America." Edgers also wrote and narrated 5 Runners, while Durlach shot and edited the film.

"As a longtime sponsor of the Boston Marathon and a member of the Boston community, we are proud to be backing a project that celebrates the courage and fortitude of a city we love," said Patricia Jacobs, President, AT&T New England. "This documentary captures Bostonians' strength and resilience. The hopeful tone of 5 Runners is what sets this film and this great city apart." 

About Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC

Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC provides news and information, entertainment, opinion and analysis through its multimedia properties. BGMP includes the Boston Globe, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, BostonGlobe.com, Boston.com, Telegram.com and Globe Direct.

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SOURCE The Boston Globe