Press release:
ESPN Films announces the return of the Peabody award-winning film series with Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau, a 2013 Tribeca Film Festival selection, which will premiere on ESPN/ESPN HD on Tuesday, October 1, at 8 p.m. ET. The trailer for the film can be viewed at https://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=9639055. Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau is directed by Sam George (Riding Giants) and produced by Stacy Peralta (Dogtown and Z-Boys) and Paul Taublieb (The Vow).
“Eddie Would Go” is a phrase that has long carried deep meaning with countless Hawaiians and surfers worldwide. Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau goes beyond those famous three words and chronicles the remarkable life and power of Eddie Aikau, the legendary Hawaiian big wave surfer, pioneering lifeguard and ultimately doomed crew member of the Polynesian voyaging canoe Hokule’a. With a rich combination of archival imagery, contemporary interviews and meticulously researched historical source material, this film is a compelling exploration of the tragic decline and extraordinary re-birth of the Hawaiian culture as personified by a native son whose dynamic life and heroic death served as inspiration to an entire spiritual movement.
“Our goal with the 30 for 30 series is to always entertain and inform fans by offering a rich, detailed look at various sports and athletes,” said Connor Schell, vice president of ESPN Films. “Eddie Aikau’s story explores both the spirit of the Hawaiian people and that of the surfing culture while also providing an examination of one man’s life and what it has meant to so many.”
The entire fall slate will air as follows:
Tuesday, Oct. 1, 8 p.m. – Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau(Director: Sam George)
Tuesday, Oct. 8, 8 p.m. – Free Spirits (Director: Daniel H. Forer)
Tuesday, Oct. 15, 8 p.m. – No Más (Director: Eric Drath)
Tuesday, Oct. 22, 8 p.m. – Big Shot (Director: Kevin Connolly)
Tuesday, Oct. 29, 8 p.m. – This is What They Want(Directors: Brian Koppelman and David Levien)
Tuesday, Nov. 5, 8 p.m. – Bernie and Ernie (Director: Jason Hehir)
Each 30 for 30 film will be available on iTunes and Amazon Instant Video the day after its broadcast premiere. A six-disc collectible DVD Gift Set, featuring the first fifteen films from 30 for 30 Volume II, will be available at major retailers in-store and online on November 26, 2013.
30 for 30-related updates are available at www.facebook.com/espn30for30 and www.twitter.com/30for30.
About ESPN Films
Created in March 2008, ESPN Films produces high-quality films showcasing some of the most compelling stories in sports. In October 2009, ESPN Films launched the Peabody Award-winning, Producer’s Guild Award-winning and Emmy-nominated 30 for 30 film series. Inspired by ESPN’s 30th Anniversary, the films that made up the series were a thoughtful and innovative reflection on the past three decades told through the lens of diverse and interesting sports fans and social commentators. The strong reaction from both critics and fans led to the launch of 30 for 30 Volume II, which is currently underway. Additional projects from ESPN Films include the critically acclaimed Nine for IX series,SEC Storied and the webby award winning 30 for 30 Shorts.
