One of my favorite films at this year’s Sundance Film Festival was writer-directorPaul Downs Colaizzo’sBrittany Runs a Marathon. Based on his best friend’s real story, the film starsJillian Bell(who is fantastic in the role) as a woman who resolves to get her life in order by taking up running and slowly learns to break down the barriers that have caused her to push people away. Loaded with a perfect amount of humor and heart, I can’t recommend this film enough. Trust me, this is one of the breakout films from this year’s Sundance and it explains why it won the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award and why Amazon Studios picked it up for $14 million after the world premiere.Brittany Runs a Marathonalso starsMichaela Watkins,Utkarsh Ambudkar,Lil Rel Howery,Micah Stock, andAlice Lee. For more on the film,read Matt Goldberg’s review.
Before I got to see the film, Jillian Bell, Lil Rel Howery, Micah Stock, Michaela Watkins, Utkarsh Ambudkar and Paul Downs Colaizzo stopped by the Collider studio at the Kia Supper Suite in Park City. They talked about premiering at Sundance, what the film is about and who they play, what Colaizzo learned from his first cut and early screenings, the dramatic parts of the story, and so much more.
I’d also like to take a moment to give special thanks to our Collider Studio partner, the all new2020 Kia Telluride, which was transporting filmmakers to our studio in celebration of the debut of the all new model, Kia’s first eight-passenger SUV that is several inches longer and wider than the brand’s award-winning Sorento.
Libations flowing at the Collider studio and parties were provided byLIFEWTR, Tequila Comisario, Sensi Tuscany Wines, Blue Moon Belgian WhiteandDragonfly Coffee Roasters. Food during the evening parties was provided byGreene St. Kitchen of Palms Casino Resorthelmed by Chef Du CuisineLanny Chin. Brand partners also active during the day-part includemou, a luxury footwear and accessories line, andThe Wild Immersionendorsed by Jane Goodall who was on-site with the world’s first ‘virtual reserve’.
Check out what they had to say in the player above and below is exactly what we talked about.
Jillian Bell, Lil Rel Howery, Micah Stock, Michaela Watkins, Utkarsh Ambudkar and Paul Downs Colaizzo:
Here’s the official synopsis forBrittany Runs a Marathon:
Brittany Forgler is 27 years old and a mess: her boss is disappointed in her, her doctor is worried about her, her friends don’t respect her, and, worst of all, she doesn’t respect herself. In search of a new life, Brittany laces up her Converse and runs one block. The next day, two. Pretty soon, a mile. She finally has direction, but is she on the right path? BRITTANY RUNS A MARATHON is the story of a woman who wants a better life, and sets out to conquer herself one city block at a time.
