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Synopsis: Ultra-running evokes notions of insanity, dedication, and the pursuit of mind over body. A blend of eye-popping scenery, extreme human achievement, and revealing personal stories, Confessions of a Runner features Patrick Vaughan – an accomplished trail runner, small business owner, parent, and survivor of serious physical impairments – as he shares his story of healing and redemption while pursuing the record for completing the 470km Lebanon Mountain Trail. Exquisite handheld and drone cinematography and a soundtrack from local musicians provide context to this rugged north-to-south trail run, traversing from Syria to the Israeli border. Experience the Lebanese Mountain Trail through the strides and sweat of Patrick and the experiences of guide and record-holder Avedis Kalpaklian and other local runners. Patrick keeps one eye on his GPS and the other eye on the prize, breaking the record of eight days set by Avedis, a stand-out Lebanese mountain athlete and ultra-runner. Unscripted and unpredictable, Confessions is an exploration of what has driven Patrick to run incredible distances and redefine his limits in an inspiring journey to peace and redemption.

Rated

Not Rated

Language

English, Arabic, French

Run Time

29 minutes

Directed by

Bachar Khattar

Produced by

Patrick Vaughan
Denise Jabbour

Edited by

Nicholas Cardahi

Composer

Emile Aoud

Prod. Company

House of Steep Productions - www.hosproductions.com

Director's Bio

Bachar Khattar, Director, was born in Lebanon, and grew up in Beirut, obtaining a degree in Audiovisual Studies in 2008 from Saint Joseph University. His first short film won the Best Short Film Award in Lebanon at the Notre Dame University, and he immediately moved into filming commercials, TV shows, and web series for popular artists in the region, as well as short documentaries.

In 2014, Bachar worked as Director of Photography on Yemeniettes, his first feature documentary. The film showcased three Yemeni teenage girls who enter an entrepreneurship competition but along the way encounter the hardships of a country marked by a broken educational system, joblessness, and the threatening presence of Al-Qaeda. The project won several awards, including Best Documentary Award at the High Falls Film Festival in Rochester, NY.

An avid outdoorsman, Bachar’s love for the Lebanese countryside led him to meet Avedis Kalpaklian, the first Lebanon Mountain Trail Ultra runner, and subsequently Patrick Vaughan. He is the principal cinematographer for Confessions of a Runner, beginning with the race footage from June 2017.

Bachar now lives with his wife and two-year-old son between Beirut and Ottawa. His fluency in three languages (English, Arabic, and French) allows him to meet different people with interesting stories to document.

Awards

Independent Shorts Awards - United States - 2020

June 2020 Platinum Award: Best Documentary Short (Confessions of a Runner)

Independent Shorts Awards - United States - 2020

June 2020 Honorable Mention: Best Original Score (Emile Aoud)

Official selection

Denali Film Festival - United States - 2020

Country of Origin

Lebanon

Production Year

2020

Official Website

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