‘Sprinter’ opens locally July 3

S printer, celebrated Jamaican director Storm Saulter’s coming-of-age story, which follows 17-year-old Rastafarian track athlete Akeem Sharp, will open in cinemas in Kingston, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios on July 3, and will be the opening film at Sunshine Palace in Portmore, St Catherine.

The feature film, which is experiencing overwhelming success on the international film market, premiered in Los Angeles, California, in the United States on April 23, and has since been screened in over 50 cities and 20 states across North America. Sprinter’s Theatrical-On-Demand distribution model allows individuals across the United States to request screenings at their local cinemas through the film’s website: sprinterthefilm.com.

Writer and director Storm Saulter, according to a release, remains in awe at the reception. He believes the film’s international success is due to the story defying the stereotypes often associated with Caribbean people, especially on the big screen.

“The film tackles key issues affecting audiences both locally and internationally, such as immigration and the separation of families due to better economic opportunities abroad. The so-called ‘Barrel Pickney’ phenomenon that has become normalised across the Caribbean region and the world,” Saulter said.

International magazine V ariety has lauded the film for its emotional impact on the viewer. “ Sprinter makes a mad dash straight for the audience’s gut. It’s heartfelt in its delivery. The kind of exuberant glee emblematic of so many great sports films,” the magazine critiqued.

The Los Angeles Times also shared that the film deviates from the expected storyline and highlighted that it offers much more than the standard sports story.

Sprinter, which is the debut for lead actor Dale Elliot, who plays Akeem Sharp and features a Jamaican-American main cast involving Kadeem Wilson, Shantol Jackson, Bryshere Grey of Fox’s Empire, David Alan Grier of In Living Colour and Lorraine Toussaint of Netflix hit series Orange is the New Black, has picked up myriad awards. It received the 2018 American Black Film Festival winning ‘Best Director’, ‘Best Narrative Feature’ and the ‘Audience Award’. Saulter and the team went on to win the ‘New Vision Award’ at the Bahamas International Film Festival, ‘Best Feature Film’ at the Nouveaux Regards Film Festival in Guadeloupe, and ‘Best Narrative Feature’ at the 2019 Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles.