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One of my favorite films at this year’s Sundance Film Festival was writer-director Paul Downs Colaizzo’s Brittany Runs a Marathon. Based on his best friend’s real story, the film stars Jillian Bell (who is fantastic in the role) as a woman who resolves to get her life in order by taking up running and slowly learns to break down the barriers that have caused her to push people away. Loaded with a perfect amount of humor and heart, I can’t recommend this film enough. Trust me, this is one of the breakout films from this year’s Sundance and it explains why it won the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award and why Amazon Studios picked it up for $14 million after the world premiere. Brittany Runs a Marathon also stars Michaela Watkins, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Lil Rel Howery, Micah Stock, and Alice Lee. For more on the film, read Matt Goldberg’s review.

Before I got to see the film, Jillian Bell, Lil Rel Howery, Micah Stock, Michaela Watkins, Utkarsh Ambudkar and Paul Downs Colaizzo stopped by the Collider studio at the Kia Supper Suite in Park City. They talked about premiering at Sundance, what the film is about and who they play, what Colaizzo learned from his first cut and early screenings, the dramatic parts of the story, and so much more.

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Image via Kia Motors

I’d also like to take a moment to give special thanks to our Collider Studio partner, the all new 2020 Kia Telluride, which was transporting filmmakers to our studio in celebration of the debut of the all new model, Kia’s first eight-passenger SUV that is several inches longer and wider than the brand’s award-winning Sorento.

Libations flowing at the Collider studio and parties were provided by LIFEWTR, Tequila Comisario, Sensi Tuscany Wines, Blue Moon Belgian White and Dragonfly Coffee Roasters. Food during the evening parties was provided by Greene St. Kitchen of Palms Casino Resort helmed by Chef Du Cuisine Lanny Chin. Brand partners also active during the day-part include mou, a luxury footwear and accessories line, and The Wild Immersion endorsed by Jane Goodall who was on-site with the world’s first ‘virtual reserve’.

Check out what they had to say in the player above and below is exactly what we talked about.

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Image via Amazon Studios

Jillian Bell, Lil Rel Howery, Micah Stock, Michaela Watkins, Utkarsh Ambudkar and Paul Downs Colaizzo:

  • The reaction to their film getting in at Sundance.
  • When they found out their film got into Sundance.
  • A brief description of the film and who they play.
  • What Colaizzo learned from his first cut and early screenings.
  • Why it was such a pleasure for the cast to work with Colaizzo.
  • Colaizzo and Bell on tackling the dramatic parts of the story.

Here's the official synopsis for Brittany Runs a Marathon:

Brittany Forgler is 27 years old and a mess: her boss is disappointed in her, her doctor is worried about her, her friends don't respect her, and, worst of all, she doesn't respect herself. In search of a new life, Brittany laces up her Converse and runs one block. The next day, two. Pretty soon, a mile. She finally has direction, but is she on the right path? BRITTANY RUNS A MARATHON is the story of a woman who wants a better life, and sets out to conquer herself one city block at a time.

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