Filmmaker Chosen for First-Ever espnW Film Fellowship, Presented By Walmart

The espnW Film Fellowship program, presented by Walmart, will grant funding to filmmaker Daniele Anastasion to direct a docu-series consisting of four short films examining motherhood and athleticism through the eyes of Sarah Brown, an elite track athlete who will train through her pregnancy. Anastasion is the winner of the first-ever fellowship program, which sought to find a filmmaker hoping to bring a woman-centric sports story to life on screen. Anastasion will work closely with the ESPN Films team and will chronicle her journey on espnW.com. The announcement was made yesterday at espnW's Impact25 Gala in New York City.

The docu-series, "Run Mama Run," will follow Brown as she comes off the best track season of her career and continues with tailored workouts in hopes of making the Olympic team, all while pregnant with her first child. Due in March with a baby girl, the episodes will chronicle her journey through pregnancy and into postpartum training. Anastasion will take viewers through Brown's workout and nutrition regimen as she pushes her body to the limits with the help of her husband and trainer, Darren Brown.

"I'm thrilled about this fellowship and excited to tell Sarah's story," said Anastasion. "I'm especially grateful to espnW and Walmart for supporting films about strong women."

Episodes of "Run Mama Run" will roll out on espnW.com from April to August and screen in full in the fall at the 2016 espnW: Women + Sports Summit. Additionally, Anastasion will chronicle her directorial journey on espnW.com. She will also serve as a judge for Bentonville Film Festival (BFF)'s 10 Brands, 10 Stories Short Film Competition, and will participate in the 2016 Bentonville Film Festival in Bentonville, Arkansas as a featured speaker. Walmart is also a sponsor of the Bentonville Film Festival and shares the festival's mission to champion diversity and inclusion.

Daniele Anastasion is a director and writer with more than a decade of experience creating critically acclaimed documentaries and television series. She directed the Sundance award-winning feature, "The Redemption of General Butt Naked," and worked as a writer and producer on the groundbreaking series "Belief" for Oprah Winfrey. Most recently, she directed "I Am Yup'ik" for ESPN's 30 FOR 30 SHORTS series, which premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.

About espnW espnW serves women who love sports. espnW.com provides an engaging environment that offers total access to female athletes and the sports they play, takes fans inside the biggest events, and shares a unique point of view on the sports stories that matter most to women. Founded in July 2010, espnW lives across digital, television, films, events, educational platforms and social media. The annual espnW: Women + Sports Summit is the leading event of its kind in the sports industry.

Image courtesy of ESPN Press

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