Bend Film Fest winner “Brian” coming to Portland Sunday

See below for details…

Winner of the Bend Film Festival 2009 Katie Merrit Audience Choice Award, Brian, is coming to the Hollywood Theatre on October 24th, 2010 at 4:00 pm. Honoring the memory of Oregon native, Portlander and avid cyclist Brian Reynolds, this film documents his journey to Crater Lake with his completion of Cycle Oregon in 2004. His journey wasn’t an ordinary one; adding to Brian’s challenge was a battle with an unusually rare sarcoma cancer that by the 2004 Cycle Oregon had been a constant in his life for nearly 12 years. At the time of the ride, Brian had already lost his sacrum (replaced by titanium rods) and his right lung to this disease, making cycling a challenge…one he embraced.

While the film’s pith is constituted by the actual training for and experience of Cycle Oregon, it is about much more than just this feat; it is about Brian’s perseverance in the face of a cancer that is difficult to treat and unforgiving, his refusal to let the cancer limit and define him, and maybe most importantly his friends and family – including wife Gail and daughter Valerie – who are the driving force behind his will to succeed.

After winning a ticket to participate in Cycle Oregon as a result of being the top fundraiser for Reach the Beach, a ride from Portland to Pacific City that he took part in annually, Brian decides that he will go for the goal of completing the nearly 500 mile ride spread out over seven days. In training for the ride, Brian creates a strong bond with cycling coach and good friend, Justin Klahn. Their relationship is a particularly touching element of the documentary that highlights a common theme of the film – challenges do not have to be faced alone. This sentiment is thoughtfully summed up in Brian’s own sagacious words: “Life’s hard, that means perseverance. Everyone has a story, that’s about compassion. You don’t get through it alone, and that’s about love.”

In addition to the screening of the film, a raffle will be held with prizes supplied by The Bike Gallery, Rejuvenation, Nike, artist Mona Cordell Jones, Pam Fromuth of Garden Gal and Debra Carus of Elentari Håndverk. Guest speakers will include Jay Graves – owner of the Bike Gallery, Mary Roberts – Board Chair of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA), and Melissa Hill – Northwest Sarcoma Foundation. Furthermore, there will be a Q and A panel with Brian’s wife Gail, his daughter Valerie, filmmakers Tae and Yuna Lee and cycling coach Justin Klahn directly following the documentary.

So come out on October 24th to celebrate and remember a man who had a profound impact on his community and continues to touch countless lives in the sharing of this story through film. The proceeds from ticket and DVD sales will go to the Northwest Sarcoma Foundation of which Brian was a strong supporter. The Northwest Sarcoma Foundation will go on to be the benefactor of documentary sales. Copies of Brian on DVD may be purchased through their organization.
For additional information contact Gail Reynolds via email at gailer888[at]yahoo.com.