Beyond the Powder – Women’s Air Racing Documentary today at Oshkosh

Press Release:

The new PBS documentary film Beyond the Powder will host a press conference at AirVenture 2015 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin this afternoon at 2:30pm, Wednesday July 22nd in the main press tent on the AirVenture grounds.

Beyond the Powder: The Legacy of the First Women’s Cross-Country Air Race is a one-hour film documenting the 1929 Women’s Air Derby, and the women who continue to fly the cross-country race today as the Air Race Classic. The film will highlight the societal and aviation challenges women faced in 1929, exploring the history of the race, while comparing the race as it is flown today. Filming wrapped in 2014, following that year’s Air Race Classic, a contemporary race with over 50 teams of women pilots. The filmmakers will be on hand to announce the coming events surrounding this new PBS film. While screening material at the conference, they will also discuss the film’s premiere screening to be held that same day at AirVenture.

Beyond the Powder is produced by Hemlock Films and Western Reserve PBS. Kara Martinelli directed the film with narration from Law and Order: SVU and NBC’s Aquarius actress Michaela McManus. The first Women’s Air Derby in 1929 started in Santa Monica, California with the finish line in Cleveland; kicking off the National Air Races. The eyes of the country watched as these brave women made history flying cross-country, breaking into a competition that was thought to be exclusively for men. They encountered sabotage, death, and all the difficulties of flying at the dawn of aviation. Today the Powder Puff Derby continues as the Air Race Classic. The modern day racers carry out the legacy of the original racers with their adventurous and rebellious spirit. Showing that they were more than just their make-up, the original Derby contestants have inspired those flying today to truly push ‘beyond the powder’. Screenings will be at the EAA Museum’s Skyscape Theater at 4pm on July 22nd and 25th. Beyond The Powder was made possible through generous support from the Ilsababy Foundation and Parker Aerospace

Helpful links: www.beyondthepowder.com
www.hemlockfilms.com
www.airventure.org

For additional information contact: Adam White (216) 496-5013 / Kara Martinelli (216) 712-1446