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Sahara Marathon
Thursday, August 19, 2004
While the Olympics are underway in Greece this summer, WIDE ANGLE presents the story of a unique marathon that is staged annually -- in one of the world's most punishing deserts -- in the hope of drawing attention to the plight of the Sahrawi people. Torn by years of bitter guerilla warfare fought against Morocco's annexation of Western Sahara in 1976, the Sahrawi are still waiting for the referendum on sovereignty promised in a UN-brokered cease-fire over a decade ago. The story focuses on two competitors -- Abdullah, a Sahrawi self-trained runner determined to win the race for his people, and Jorge Aubeso, a top Spanish athlete sympathetic to the cause -- who race through brutal heat and infamous sirocco sandstorms with winds up to 60 mph. The filmmakers -- one of only two media crews covering the event -- have full access to this unusual race and to the all-but-forgotten story of 165,000 people who sense that the global spotlight is no longer theirs and fear that their problem may never be resolved without a return to armed conflict. This poignant story is representative of the aspirations of small, forgotten minorities throughout the world.
 Watch a preview video
Directors Aitor Arregi and Jon Garaño are cofounders of Moriarti Productions. Arregi is the director of the animated feature film WASTE SIDE STORY, which premiered in Spanish theatres in April 2004. Garaño is an experienced journalist who has worked for several Basque newspapers, radio, and TV stations. He is currently directing the documentaries THE DRAGON HOUSE, about the westernization of Bhutan, and BHUTAN'S SECRET.
Producer Xabier Berzosa, another cofounder of Moriarti Productions, currently works at Irusoin Productions. Producer of several award-winning short films and documentaries, he is currently producing two feature-length 3D animation films, WASTE SIDE STORY and SUPERTRAMPS. Berzosa is executive producer of the documentaries THE DRAGON HOUSE and BHUTAN'S SECRET.
Producer Aiala Fernández of Irusoin Productions has worked as a journalist for Basque public television, covering, among other issues, the conflict in Kosovo. She researched and produced THE DRAGON HOUSE and BHUTAN'S SECRET and has worked in production on the 3D animation films, WASTE SIDE STORY and SUPERTRAMPS.
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