"'Beyond the Mat' tells the coming-of-age tale of Aaron Miller," is how the press release describes the movie. "Amidst the struggle of a disintegrating friendship, the tormenting of a crossâ€town rival, and the blossoming of a new love, Aaron is forced to come to terms with who he really is ... Fueled by the desire to succeed and the need to prove himself, Aaron embarks on a journey of self-discovery. The drama culminates in an explosive finale at the state wrestling championship where more than just pride is on the line. It's a tale about two best friends, a chronicle about minority experiences in America, and ultimately the story of a teen who overcomes selfâ€doubt to find his true place."
"Beyond the Mat", a Tribeca Film Festival Official Selection as its Community Program Film, stars John Wynn, Mark Hapka ("The Ghost Whisperers"), and Sarah Fletcher ("Secret Girlfriend"), along with Kurt Angle, who, before becoming a pro wrestler, was a two-time NCAA Division I heavyweight champ at Clarion University in Pennsylvania (1990, 1992), and gold medalist in freestyle wrestling at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. In 2005, Angle was voted one of fifteen all-time greatest college wrestlers in an online poll of fans for the 75th anniversary of the NCAA Wrestling Championships.
"Beyond the Mat" will screen on Thursday, July 23, at 9 p.m. at a free outdoor community screening at Imperial Arts Studio, 695 S. Santa Fe Ave., Los Angeles. Doors open at 7 p.m.; general admission is on a first-come, first-serve basis. A trailer is available for viewing online.
Note that this movie titled "Beyond the Mat" is not to be confused with the 1999 documentary of the same name, which focuses on the world of professional wrestling.
The showing is part of a five-day Downtown Los Angeles Film Festival, July 22-26, to be held at venues throughout downtown L.A.'s historic core. For more information, visit DFFLA.org.
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