Run the North is a documentary film that brings the Polar Bear Marathon to the screen. The extreme marathon takes place in the sub-zero temperatures of Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, the “Polar Bear Capital of the World.”
Each year, the run brings together a motley group of adventurers from across the continent and even overseas, each with their own captivating stories of what is driving them to do something most people would consider crazy — to challenge the wild, frozen land and Run the North.
The film not only digs into the psyche of the athletes and examines the factors that drive them, but gives a glimpse into the achievements of young First Nations runners who are striving to improve their own lives and communities.
Albert Martens and his wife Edna of Steinbach, Manitoba, who organize the Polar Bear Marathon each year, have been working in remote northern First Nations communities for over 10 years. As a result of their work, a number of young runners from the Sayisi Dene Nation at Tadoule Lake, Manitoba, have been inspired to make the trip to run in Churchill, a place of painful memories for their people due to the infamous failed relocation by the Canadian government in the 1950s.
But these young runners choose to journey back to Churchill and create new, positive memories. They achieve, and by doing so, create a catalyst for new bridges and bonds to be formed between estranged communities.
Run the North will be having its official premiere in Churchill on November 21, 2016 at the next Polar Bear Marathon. The film’s BC-based director, Jake Bergen, wants to give the upcoming screenings to the people of Churchill as a gift to thank them for their graciousness and hospitality during the filming of this documentary.
The film is now being submitted to film festivals for consideration, in the hopes that its message can have a broader reach as it shares the healing and hope that can positively affect other northern communities.
For more information and trailers please visit: http://www.runthenorth.com or contact:
Jake Bergen
(778) 998-2234
jake@jakebergenfilms.com
