[Bethlehem, Pennsylvania] The highly anticipated wrestling movie “VERITAS” will screen during the South Side Film Festival at the Lehigh University Campus in the Packard Lab Auditorium on Thursday, June 21st, at 7pm and on Saturday, June 23rd at 2pm. (200 W. Packer Ave. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)
VERITAS means Righteousness, Truth and Integrity”¦ For three time NCAA All American Wrestler, Jon Trenge, it’s a reminder for him to do the right thing. Veritas is a feature-length film documenting Lehigh University’s 2004-2005 wrestling team and the story of Jon Trenge, who strives to achieve his childhood dream of becoming a National Wrestling Champion for his hometown school. Jon’s freshman season is cut short when doctors discover an eye condition so serious that he is told he should never wrestle again or risk losing his eyesight permanently. Jon refuses to accept his doctor’s warning and is determined to find a way to wrestle. After undergoing five eye surgeries, he wears homemade protective goggles designed by his father and nearly achieves his goal his sophomore and junior seasons losing in the National Finals.
Jon defeats a former National Champion to earn the most wins in Lehigh’s storied wrestling history, but many of his opponents intentionally attack his protective goggles injuring and frustrating him. Jon retaliates and gets disqualified from two matches. However, Jon overcomes this setback by using it as an opportunity to learn about himself and grow as a person. He returns to competition invigorated, and the pursuit of his childhood dream ultimately helps him become the man he wants to be.
VERITAS has taken the wrestling community by storm as it was recently showcased during the 2007 NCAA Division 1 National Wrestling Championships were it received a standing ovation. Then the film screened at the National High School Wrestling Championships in Virginai Beach, Virginia where it was well received by wrestlers, parents and fans. The screening in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania will be the films homecoming as the film will showcase in the Lehigh Valley, the valley where the inspiring story of a local hero Jon Trenge is known by many. Present at the film festival screenings will be the films director and producer Howie Miller. Following the screening Miller will participate in a question and answer session where audience members can participate in a discussion of the film.
The South Side Film Festival (SSFF) premiered in June 2004, with great success, screening 50 films, by 35 filmmakers, from as far as India, the Netherlands, California, Utah, Texas, and all over the East Coast. Since then the festival has showcased films from almost every filmmaking corner of the world.
For tickets and more information about the South Side Film Festival please visit http://www.ssff.org. For information regarding the movie VERITAS, future screening dates, DVD sales and fundraising opportunities for wrestling teams please visit http://www.Veritas-Movie.com or http://www.MySpace.com/VeritastheMovie
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