PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 4/2/2019
Contact: Patrick James Lynch at Believe Limited, (516) 448-9164 patrick@believeltd.com
Alex Borstein attaches to hemophilia documentary ahead of NYC sneak preview benefitting global charity.
Alex Borstein, the two-time Emmy-Award winning actress best known for her work on “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “Family Guy,” has joined the producing team of the new documentary Bombardier Blood, which screens in New York City for the first time on April 14th in recognition of World Hemophilia Day and to raise funds for the charity Save One Life. Alex joins Believe Limited producers Rob Bradford, Ryan Gielen, and Patrick James Lynch. Lynch is also the film’s director.
Bombardier Blood follows mountaineer Chris Bombardier on a historic mission to become the first person with hemophilia to climb the Seven Summits, the highest mountain on each continent, including the world’s tallest peak, Mount Everest. The intimate, unflinching film also chronicles Chris’s quest to bring aid and fundraise for people with hemophilia where access to life-saving treatment is scarce, and the disease is often deadly.
Alex and her daughter have a mild form of hemophilia, which also affects other members of her family. She is an advocate for the hemophilia community and women with bleeding disorders, regularly speaking to patient groups and giving interviews about her personal experience living with a bleeding disorder.
"There’s still very little awareness about hemophilia, which is why it’s important for stories like this to be told,” says Borstein. “Chris’ story will inspire anyone who watches this film while also teaching them just a bit about what it means to live with hemophilia. That’s the power of entertainment.”
Hemophilia is a rare disease, occurring in approximately 1 in 10,000 births. Though generally well controlled in United States, 75% of the global population is without access to life-sustaining medication.
“Hemophilia looks dramatically different around the world. People with the same condition I have aren’t making it past 10 years old,” says Bombardier. “I wanted to share my mission with our global community, but I also wanted the climbs to benefit those who are most in need.”
Through the non-profit Save One Life, which has served thousands of families with hemophilia in 13 developing countries, Chris’s climbs secured financial sponsorships for over 100 children and raised over $100,000 in additional donations. He now serves as the organization’s Executive Director.
“My favorite thing about this film is that it’s not really about hemophilia.” says Lynch, the director, who also has the disease. “It’s about the power of the human spirit; it’s about love, adventure, and service; it’s about being vulnerable and doing what scares you most. It’s a universal story, and it overwhelms me that Believe and I have the privilege to help tell it.”
The New York City Hemophilia Chapter will host the April 14th screening, which takes place at the AMC Empire 25 in Times Square at 2:00pm (doors open at 1:30). Tickets are required and free, though a suggested donation to Save One Life is requested. Entry includes access to the screening as well as to a meet-and-greet reception and silent auction that follows. All proceeds will benefit Save One Life.
“I want everyone to feel the inspiration and possibilities created by Chris’s climb.” says Jeremy Griffin, Executive Director of the host organization. “The film, to me, is about pushing boundaries to a new horizon where global access to care is a reality and cures for bleeding disorders are finally within our reach. Seeing this incredible journey will help you understand that nothing is impossible.”
The documentary and Chris’s final two climbs were sponsored by Octapharma USA, the American subsidiary of Octapharma Group, one of the largest human protein products manufacturers in the world. Octapharma’s core business is the development and production of human proteins from human plasma and human cell lines with therapies focused on coagulation, immune disorders and critical care.”
“It has been our privilege to partner with Chris and Believe Limited on Bombardier Blood from the early days when Chris was first planning his historic trip to Everest,” said Octapharma USA President Flemming Nielsen. “Ultimately, Bombardier Blood is a call to action for all of us, particularly the bleeding disorders community, to find our own Everest, and it’s an experience that should not be missed.”
For tickets to the April 14th screening and for more information about the film, visit bombardierblood.com/tickets.
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Bios:
ALEX BORSTEIN (Executive Producer)
Alex is a multi-hyphenate talent who wrote for Showtime’s long-running series SHAMELESS. She then followed that by starring along-side Laurie Metcalf in HBO’s, GETTING ON, where she brought the vulnerable character of Dawn Forcehette to life. Getting On rose to critical acclaim during its three seasons as it followed the daily lives of put-upon nurses and doctors as they struggle with the dark comedic realities of caring for the elderly in an overwhelmed healthcare system. Most recently, Alex won two Emmys: one for her turn as Susie Myerson on Amazon Prime’s award winning series, THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL. She is currently shooting the third season of the breakout series. She also took home an Emmy for her voiceover work as Lois Griffin on FOX’s long-running, mega-hit, FAMILY GUY. On the film front, Borstein was recently seen in Love, The Coopers with Alan Arkin and Diane Keaton. She also appeared in Seth MacFarlane’s A Million Ways To Die in The West as Millie, the madam in the town’s brothel. In the summer of 2012, Borstein also appeared in MacFarlane’s directorial debut Ted, also released by Universal. The film became the highest-grossing original R-rated film of all time, bringing in $545 million dollars worldwide. Previously, Borstein appeared opposite Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Scott Frank's The Lookout, in Bad Santa with Billy Bob Thornton and in The Lizzie Mcguire Movie with Hilary Duff. Not just a comedic actress, Borstein starred alongside George Clooney in the six-time Academy Award-nominated film Good Night, and Good Luck. Her role as Natalie also earned her a Screen Actors Guild nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in Motion Picture. The film was also nominated for a Golden Globe, BAFTA, and was awarded Movie of the Year by the American Film Institute. Originally from Chicago, Borstein graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in Rhetoric. She started performing sketch comedy while in San Francisco and later joined the ACME Comedy Theatre in Los Angeles. Borstein is short and spends the best parts of life in Barcelona.
CHRIS BOMBARDIER (Mountaineer)
Chris Bombardier is a mountaineer and outdoorsman with severe hemophilia B living in Salem, Massachusetts. Chris grew up in Denver, Colorado and shortly after earning his bachelor’s degree in Biology began a journey to become the first person with hemophilia to climb the Seven Summits, the highest peak on each of the seven continents. Throughout this adventure, Chris has been raising awareness and money for the international hemophilia nonprofit Save One Life that serves individuals with bleeding disorders in developing countries. Chris worked at GutMonkey, an experience-based education company that utilizes adventure to impact those living with chronic medical conditions and is earning a master’s degree in Global Health from Northwestern University. Currently, Chris is serving as the Executive Director of Save One Life and is focusing on growing and developing the five programs offered through the organization, including a clotting factor donation program that helps provide access to care for individuals in developing countries that have no access.
PATRICK JAMES LYNCH (Director/Writer/Producer)
Notable credits include Elsewhere (feature narrative; director, co-writer, producer; Winner of HRIFF: Best Film, NYCIFF: Best Ensemble Cast), Stop The Bleeding! (award-winning branded web series, 59 episodes; creator, writer, producer), sometimes, i think about dying (short drama, Sundance 2019 selection; executive producer), My Beautiful Stutter (feature documentary from EPs Paul Rudd and George Springer; executive producer), and Treatment For All (docuseries; creator, director, co-writer). Patrick is a bleeding disorders advocate who has led workshops and programs all around the world. Founder & CEO, Believe Limited. Proud graduate of Boston University’s School of Theatre.
RYAN GIELEN (Producer)
Upcoming credits include the documentary My Beautiful Stutter (2019, Executive Producers Paul Rudd & George Springer). Ryan is two-time WEBBY winner. Founder & Creative Director at Believe Limited.
ROB BRADFORD (Producer; Mountain Director/Cinematographer)
As Believe’s lead producer, Rob has helmed productions on all seven continents, lived at Mt. Everest Base Camp for two months producing and shooting the feature documentary Bombardier Blood (2018), co-produced the feature documentary My Beautiful Stutter (2018), produced and starred in the narrative drama Elsewhere (2018), as well as produced and shot in five developing world countries for the Treatment For All docuseries. Rob’s photography has been featured by the National Park Service.
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Bombardier Blood is produced by Believe Limited and made possible Octapharma USA, Entertainment 2 Affect Change (E2AC; 501c3), and the Coalition for Hemophilia B (501c3).
TEASER IS AVAILABLE AT BOMBARDIERBLOOD.COM