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The Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival will showcase the first public screening of The Mildred Burke biopic Queen of the Ring.
The festival's website notes:
Inspired by Jeff Leen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book, the true story chronicles Mildred Burke, the first million-dollar female athlete in history. Millie, a young single mother defies societal norms by becoming a professional wrestler during a time when female wrestling was illegal in most of the U.S. Starting her career by competing against men at carnivals, she builds an impressive record and paves the way for women’s wrestling to gain acceptance.
Despite her success, Millie’s journey is marked by personal struggles, including raising her son on the road, the tragic death of her wrestling protege, and a tumultuous relationship with her manager and ex-husband, Billy Wolfe. Her story highlights her triumphs, such as headlining main events, bringing women of color into the sport, and participating in the first female “shoot match” for a title fight. “Queen of the Ring” captures the golden age of female pro wrestling and celebrates Millie’s role in changing the culture and achieving unprecedented success.
DIRECTOR: Ash chose to pursue music first as an artist, touring in a band and teaching himself the business through a DIY lifestyle. Using all the knowledge he learned from the road, he started his own record label. Sumerian Records has now become one of the top independents in the world for rock and alternative music, with several Grammy nominations and record setting Billboard chart metrics for the hard rock genre. Sumerian recently celebrated a historic achievement with the first Grammy nomination in the history of the Recording Academy for a solo female artist in the “Best Metal Performance” category, featuring avant-garde singer Poppy.
Ash’s first feature, “American Satan,” won several awards on the festival circuit before being distributed by Miramax. The film had a theatrical release and was subsequently picked up by Showtime. Ash expanded on this success by writing and directing the limited series spin-off, “Paradise City.”
DIRECTOR STATEMENT: Storytelling has always been my greatest passion, and “Queen of the Ring” represents a culmination of my journey both personally and professionally. At the age of 34, I finally met my father, acclaimed director John G. Avildsen, known for iconic films such as “Rocky” and “The Karate Kid.” Building a beautiful bond with my father as an adult was life-changing, deeply influencing my approach to storytelling and imbuing my work with a profound sense of purpose and authenticity. Growing up without a father defined me in my youth, but becoming best friends with him later in life has been transformative.
Contact: aimee@intrinsicvaluefilms.com
Special Guest: Ash Avildsen, Emily Betts Rickards, Francesca Eastwood, Gavin Casalegno, Cara Buono, Aimee Schoof
Sponsored by:
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DIRECTOR(S): Ash Avildsen
SCREENWRITER(S): Ash Avildsen, Jeff Leen (book)
PRODUCER(S): Aimee Schoof, Isen Robbins, Ash Avildsen
CAST: Emily Betts Rickards, Josh Lucas, Francesca Eastwood, Walter Goggins, Gavin Casalegno, Cara Buono, Deborah Ann Wohl, Marie Avgerpolis, Adam Demos
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Queen of the Ring: Based on the True Story of Mildred "Millie Burke is an independent film written and directed by Ash Avildsen (No Cover, the in-development Genghis Khan and Paradise City, among other projects), which will tell the story of influential groundbreaking women's star Mildred Burke.
The film shot in Louisville, Kentucky in the summer of 2023 and in some production material, the film has been referred to as just Millie, so they may be shortening the title. The screenplay by Avildsen was based on the excellent Jeff Leen book of the same title on Burke's life, which was released back in 2009. Avildsen recently scored a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance for singer Poppy, who has appeared on WWE NXT programming in the past.
Arrow star Emily Bett Rickards (Felicity Smoak in the excellent DC series) plays Burke in the film.
AEW star Kamille played her rival June Byers.
The plot of the film - "The true story of the tough, gutsy Mildred Burke, the first world famous female pro wrestler and million dollar athlete, who becomes a champion of a growing entertainment franchise in the 1930s-1950s. Married to business partner BILLY WOLFE, the brilliant but vicious entrepreneur who pioneered women wrestlers, Mildred endured his infidelity and physical abuse despite the rise of her own power until she couldn't take it any more. With courage, panache and a loyal following, Mildred challenged the all-male hierarchy of the wrestling world as she became the first woman to headline over men."
In 2003, PWInsider.com confirmed the following additional casting of professional wrestling personalities from that time period:
-Francesca Eastwood, seen in M. Night Shyamalan's film Old will be portraying WWE Hall of Famer Mae Young, who will be seen in her 20s/30s. Eastwood is the daughter of Clint Eastwood.
-Leona "Babe" Gordon, who Burke defeated for the Women's World Championship will be portrayed by Marie Avgeropoulos (The 100). She has also appeared in the Steve Austin film Hunt To Kill.
-Josh Lucas will be playing Billy Wolfe. Lucas is well known for roles in a number of feature films including The Hulk, The Forever Purge, American Pycho and tons of other projects. Wolfe, as some will know, was a major promoter of women's wrestling in that time period and not a likable personality, in the least, as he exploited the women he promoted. He was also the former husband of Burke.
-Deborah Ann Woll (Karen from Marvel's Daredevil, in which she was excellent) will portray Gladys "Kill em" Gillem.
-Kelli Berglund, who stars in STARZ pro wrestling series Heels as Crystal, will portray "Alabama Bombshell" Nell Stewart.
-Legendary pro wrestling promoter Al Haft will be portrayed by Cobra Kai's Martin Kove. Haft was one of the original promoters to form the National Wrestling Alliance.
-Walton Goggins will be playing legendary New York City wrestling promoter Jack Pfefer, one of the first to ever break kayfabe and reveal secrets of the business to the media at the time, but also pushed for women's wrestling to be legally allowed in NYC.
-Clara Mortenson, a star from the 1930s and 40s who later moved into the Hollywood world as an actor. WWE's Liv Morgan is slated to play her.
A number of these personalities were featured years ago in the excellent Ruth Leitman women's wrestling documentary Lipstick & Dynamite.
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