Sports comedy embodies festival mission of championing women in media
Swing Away, the entertaining story of a professional golfer Zoe Papadopoulos (Shannon Elizabeth) experiencing a life changing sequence of events, is set to impress audiences at the Bentonville Film Festival, Saturday, May 7 at 10:00 a.m. in the unique Razorback Cinetransformer, the mobile theater which provides stadium seating for 91 people. Swing Away has already been privately screened to enthusiastic audiences by invitation in New York, Los Angeles and Portland. The heartwarming film was shot on location in picturesque Rhodes, Greece, where Zoe learns life lessons from her grandparents (played by Olga Damani and Alexandros Mylonas), befriends a protégé, 10-year-old Stella (Viktoria Miler) and battles the villainous Henderson (John O’Hurley) in a climactic golf match to save her hometown.
“Swing Away is the embodiment of the Bentonville Film Festival and Geena Davis’ vision to empower women in media. The bond that Shannon and Viktoria develop crosses nationalities and generations to unify around a common goal and is told magnificently by director Michael A. Nickles,” says producer and creator George Stephanopoulos. “We’re honored to be invited to share our film with these discerning audiences and showcase these amazing performances.”
The relationship between Shannon Elizabeth and the precocious Viktoria Miler transcended the screen according to Elizabeth, whose credits include American Pie. “I just fell in love with Viktoria who is now like a little sister to me. We became very close during filming and we’re still texting back and forth. She is so talented for someone so young. I hope I was able to show her just how far that talent can take her in this world.”
The film’s opening sequence was shot on location at the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer with the support of LPGA Tour professional and Golf Channel analyst Nicole Castrale – whose family is from Diovolitsi, Greece, near Kalamata. “Serving in a consulting role as part of Swing Away was an amazing experience. As a Greek American, I’m so proud to have seen something that ties golf to Greek family life, while growing the game in the process. Films like this are a feel good experience for everyone and I hope it empowers young women to dream big.” Swing Away also includes a cameo from Golf Channel broadcaster Jerry Foltz.
The golf scenes impressed O’Hurley – a 5-handicap – who thoroughly enjoyed his role as an overbearing resort developer with a great short game. “Swing Away is a story about searching for authentic things – family, friends, and ultimately one’s own self. The cast came together under Michael’s direction with the game of golf as a deeper metaphor for life, and a message that sometimes we have to lose the things we love to find out what they truly mean.”
Nickles, whose credits include Just Peck starring Academy Award winner Brie Larson, drew inspiration from the birth of his daughter in directing scenes with Zoe and Stella. “It was important to me that Swing Away was as much about strong female relationships as it was about golf and Greece. I wanted the film to be a positive example for her as she grew up.”
For more information follow “Swing Away” on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/swingawaymovie or visit our website at http://www.swingawaymovie.com/.
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