Takedowns and Falls – Chicago Premiere screenings at Facets

The film tells the story of a group of Pennsylvania teens and their relationships within a high school wrestling team on a journey to attain a state championship. It chronicles a season of the Central Dauphin Rams in Harrisburg, PA and highlights the sacrifice of its athletes, the commitment of their families and the dedication of its coaches. Inspired by their love of the sport and their cancer stricken coach, this group of teens grows up before our eyes, in an attempt to overachieve and do the impossible. It explores themes of humility, family, friendship and teamwork via individual and team efforts to win a state title. The film transcends the sport and becomes a story about people over coming odds; a “Spellbound” meets “Friday Night Lights” for high school wrestling, taking place in the U.S. Mecca for the sport.

TDAF is in the midst of a very successful theatrical run where it is receiving critical praise and packed houses of great audiences. We very much look forward to sharing the film with you, and for you to become part of the grass roots team to create the buzz that will help drive this film across the nation, supporting independent film, documentary films, and promoting the sport of wrestling.

Produced and directed by award-winning filmmaker Todd Hickey. Todd attended the Radio-Television-Film Dept. at Temple University in Philadelphia then apprenticed under directors Spike Jonze, Paul Boyd, Billie Woodriff and D.P.’s Daniel Pearl, Roberto Schieffer, Chewy Chaves, and Amy Vincent. His first narrative feature film as a D.P. After Sex, is an ensemble piece staring Mila Kunis, Emmanulle Chriqui, Taryn Manning, Jane Seymour and John Witherspoon. Todd also lensed the award-winning documentary “Freestyle, the art of Rhyme” for director Kevin Fitzgerald and “Sonny Boy,” directed by Soleil Moon-Frye. Todd recently penned the story for The Hungry Rabbit Jumps, a script written by Robert Tannen, currently in production and starring Nicolas Cage, January Jones and Guy Pearce. Todd’s work has appeared on MTV, MTV2, MTV Europe, VH1, Much Music, and Fuse.

Producer and co-director Kirk Ledger obtained a B.A. in Film & Media Art’s from Temple University. He has worked on various music videos, short films and feature films. Kirk produced and directed the soon to be released documentary “Project Home: The Michael Denning Story”. He has written numerous feature length scripts and is currently developing his next project, 60K Dollar Bum.

Facets Multi-Media, founded in 1975, is a non-profit, 501(C)3 organization, and a leading national media arts organization. Our mission is to preserve, present, distribute, and educate about film.

Facets serves audiences of over 300,000 each year. Substantive numbers participate at reduced or no cost, with targeted outreach by Facets to economically disadvantaged or underserved areas.

Facets Multi-Media is supported by earned revenue, memberships, contributions, and by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Illinois Arts Council, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Chicago Community Trust, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and other foundations, corporations and individuals.“

The screenings will take place at:
Facets Multimedia
1517 W. Fullerton Ave.
Chicago IL 60614

Showtimes:
Fri., May 7 at 6:30 & 9 pm
Sat.-Sun., May 8-9 at 1:30, 4, 6:30 & 9 pm
Mon.-Thurs., May 10-13 at 6:30 & 9 pm

Tickets:
$9 general admission
FREE for Facets Members!