Film

Angelika Hosts Pre-Release of PARAGOLD | A Documentary of 4 Paralympian Equestrians

Written by Kelly Kitchens

Special event raises funds for ManeGait in North Texas

PARAGOLD, from award-winning Filmmaker, Ron Davis, that follows four Paralympian equestrians as they qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Games that took place in 2021.

The film screening is sponsored by The Andrea-Mennen Family Foundation and will benefit DFW’s ManeGait Therapeutic Horsemanship, a nonprofit that serves individuals of all ages with a wide range of disabilities, including military veterans and first responders experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

About the Film

PARAGOLD features Roxy Trunnell, Rebecca Hart, David Botana, and Sydney Collier on their quest to represent the United States on the podium at the 2020 Paralympic Games. As each rider has their own unique disability it is through their sheer determination, hard-learned skills, love of sport, teamwork, and the bond with their equine partner that they can set aside their physical limitations and compete on a level playing field.

“The film will be an inspiration to all ages who are setting out to achieve dreams,” said event producer, Chey Reynolds.

For Davis, who has dedicated his film career to telling the stories of people who break down stereotypes, a focus on para-dressage for his latest documentary was a natural fit.

“The timing of PARAGOLD is important,” says Rebecca Hart. “As the world shifts to embrace differences in people. People are beginning to realize that what makes us different is what can also make us strong.”

Both Ron Davis and Paralympian, Rebecca Hart will in attendance to participate in an audience Q&A following the two film screenings.

About ManeGait Therapeutic Horsemanship

Founded in 2007 by business and community leaders Bill and Priscilla Darling and their daughter, Landon Darling Schneider, the nonprofit community center focuses on equine therapy and brain-building programs for individuals with disabilities with the support of 26 skilled therapy horses and 1,200 active volunteers.

“Just like the Paralympians in the documentary, ManeGait riders move beyond their boundaries through equine-assisted activities that contribute positively to their cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well-being. Demand for ManeGait programs has led to a waitlist of over 400 children and adults. Funds raised through the ParaGold pre-release screening will help bring awareness and support to ‘The Beacon Project,’ a capital expansion on ManeGait’s existing site in Collin Country, that will more than double program capacity,” said ManeGait Executive Director, Patricia Nelson.

Learn more at http://ManeGait.org.

PARAGOLD Screening Details

When: March 26 at 4:30 p.m.; 7:30 p.m.

Where: Angelika Film Center – Plano, The Shops at Legacy, 7205 Bishop Rd.

Screening Times:

4:30 p.m. Screening post film Q&A – $25 donation to ManeGait

7:30 p.m. VIP screening, Q&A, followed by Meet & Greet Reception – $50 donation to ManeGait

Link to Seats:

http://paragold-manegait.eventbrite.com

About the author

Kelly Kitchens

Kelly J Kitchens (Wickersham), film publicist

As an editor and feature writer, Kelly J. Kitchens found herself engrossed in North Texas’ arts, entertainment, leisure/hospitality and fund-raising events scene in the early and mid-'90s where she was a feature writer, critic and editor for a weekly arts and entertainment magazine in Dallas called The Met. Her love of film, music, art, theater and worthy causes drove her to then pursue the publicity side of the media business in 1995. Kelly has been honored by being named a “master publicist” in the Fort Worth Business Press and an “ace media maven” in The Dallas Morning News.

For more than 25 years, Kelly has had her hand in much of the Dallas film world. For instance, she publicized Angelika Film Centers openings in Dallas and Plano and the revitalization of Houston’s Angelika. She is the director of press and publicity for several area film festivals and independent films playing at other film festivals. And in 2022, she plans to return to be the publicist for Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas in DFW.

During the pandemic, Kelly wasn’t sure where her career would take her. Fortunately, she was able to help save Thin Line Film Festival, Dallas VideoFest's DocuFest and AltFiction Fest, Pegasus Film Festival, among other film festivals as they turned to go virtual instead of canceling.

As the world emerges from the pandemic, Kelly is working on publicity for Pegasus Media Project, Who Needs Sleep Telethon, as well as several films making their ways into the festival circuit and an Amazon series nominated for a Daytime Emmy, #WASHED.

One of Kelly’s specialties is her Media Roundtables. RTs are modified press conferences that turn into conversations and virtual film schools with filmmakers, festival directors and anyone else she happens to be working with at the time. Get a feel for these media roundtables at this YouTube playlist: https://tinyurl.com/KJKPRMediaRoundtables