We are delighted to announce that The Mountain Within has won the very prestigious award for Best Documentary in the Mountain Film Festival in the United States. The award will be presented to the film crew at a Gala dinner on the 26th February 2010.

This recognition is a tribute to everyone involved in the film and to all who have supported the The Mountain Within since its completion and release last year.

The Mountain Within – every mountain is a level playing field

Inspiring film has London premiere

The Mountain Within, a powerful drama documentary film in which seven climbers with disabilities and their buddies face the challenge of climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, will have its London premiere on Monday 9^th November.

Distributed by BRAG Productions, the 85 minute film follows the climbers’ individual and collective journeys as they head for the summit.  Wonderful personal stories – told with sensitivity and humour – emerge as they discover their inner strengths as the demands of the climb take their toll.

The Mt Kilimanjaro climb was commissioned by Enham, a UK charity that gives those with disabilities the opportunity to make real choices for a fulfilling and successful life.  The UK distribution of the film will raise funds for both Enham and Special Olympics GB, who are supporting and promoting the distribution. The London premiere will be hosted by Norton Rose LLP, one of the film’s sponsors.

Director of BRAG Productions and producer of the film, Gregory Rinaldi, said: “The film is a tribute to how the combined forces of individual spirit and determination and group support and collaboration can turn dreams into reality.   It focuses on ability, not disability.  We are working with Enham and Special Olympics GB to bring the film to a wider audience to raise money for these two great causes.  We are indebted to Norton Rose for their support for the film and for making the London premiere possible.”

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For further information, preview dvd and photographic material please contact Mary Collins on +44 (0) 7769 670 516 or at mary@marycollins-pr.com.

Notes for editors:

The production team and some of the climbers – Alex, James and Pauline – will be available for interview at the screening.

For more information on the film please visit: http://www.themountainwithin.com/

BRAG Productions was formed in 2008 by Gregory Rinaldi and Alison Baxter, the producers of the Mountain Within.  They currently have several film projects in development.  www.bragproductions.com

Enham is a leading regional UK charity dedicated to service provision for disabled people. Established in 1918, Enham was founded as a rehabilitation centre for ex-servicemen returning from the First World War. The organisation now works across the South of England empowering disabled people to reach their potential, providing an innovative and personalised range of learning programmes, employment opportunities, housing and care options. www.enham.org.uk

Special Olympics Great Britain is part of an international non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering individuals with learning disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition. Special Olympics Great Britain was established in 1978 and currently serves over 8,000 athletes who take part in year-round sports training and competition programmes. SOGB is a registered charity, which currently receives no government funding. www.sogb.org.uk

Norton Rose Group is a leading international legal practice. It offers a full business law service from its offices across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Knowing how its clients’ businesses work and understanding what drives their industries is fundamental to the Norton Rose Group. Its lawyers share industry knowledge and sector expertise across borders, enabling it to support its clients anywhere in the world.  It is strong in corporate finance; financial institutions; energy and infrastructure; transport; and technology. The Group comprises Norton Rose LLP and its affiliates. It has more than 1300 lawyers operating from offices in Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Athens, Bahrain, Bangkok, Beijing, Brussels, Dubai, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Jakarta (associate office), London, Milan, Moscow, Munich, Paris, Piraeus, Prague, Riyadh (associate office), Rome, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo and Warsaw. With effect from 1 January 2010, Deacons Australia, a leading Australian law firm with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Canberra and teams in Singapore, Jakarta and Ho Chi Minh City, will join Norton Rose Group.  The enlarged Group will have over 1800 lawyers in 30 offices worldwide, 700 of whom will be based in Asia Pacific, and will form one of the best-resourced legal practices in the Asia Pacific region. www.nortonrose.com

9^th November 2009

http://www.themountainwithin.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/The-Mountain-Within-press-release-3-Nov-20092.DOC

You can see the awards page here

http://www.ecca-london.org/events/entweek/enterpriseweek2009/creativeenterpriseawards/

Help for Special Olympics

THE LOCAL Special Olympics program received a $850.75 boost from a two-night showing of “The Mountain Within”.  It documents seven disabled individuals’ trek up Mount Kilimanjaro in summer 2008.

More than 155 people came out to the two showings of the film Sept. 4 and all the proceeds were donated to the local special olympics here.  Gregory Rinaldi of Brag Productions says the film will be released to theatres in the UK soon.  Rinaldi plans to bring the film back to North America next summer,

Meanwhile, the film will be entered in as many film festivals as possible.

By MARGARET SPEIRS of the Terrace Standard

http://www.bclocalnews.com/bc_north/terracestandard/community/Help_for_Special_Olympics.html

The Mountain Within will soon be coming to a cinema near you.

After the launch of its national cinematic release in Leicester in July 2009, The Mountain Within will be screened in cinemas across the UK during autumn and winter 2009.

The Leicester screenings have been made possible by the enormous support and enthusiasm of both Special Olympics GB and the local community – notably Showcase Cinema de Lux in Leicester and Leicester City Council – and we hope to harness equivalent support and enthusiasm from other local communities across the UK.

The Mountain Within itself demonstrates the power of collaboration, and the film would never have been completed without the amazing support, generosity and enthusiasm of everyone involved in the project. Collaboration will also be crucial to the success of the film’s national release.

Please check the site for news about future screenings.