Not many stories have been told about women golfers which — considering the numbers on women’s representation in Hollywood, and women in sports in particular — is pretty much par for the course. So we’re happy to report that “The Founders,” Charlene Fisk and Carrie Schrader’s documentary about the 13 founding members of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), has landed distribution. Deadline writes that Level 33 Entertainment and LevelFilm have acquired North American rights to the film.
As Deadline summarizes, “The Founders” explores how the inaugural LPGA members “fought to overcome incredible odds in 1940s America to form the longest running women’s sports organization in the world.”
According to the film’s official synopsis, “While their male counterparts drew adoring crowds and handsome purses for their athletic achievements, The Founders used money from their own pockets to stage tournaments in small, far-flung towns that questioned whether female golfers were even worth watching… With the creation of the Ladies Professional Golf Association, the founders staked their claim on the green and forged a path for future women athletes to be celebrated and taken seriously.”
Featuring commentary from golf legends Marilynn Smith, Shirley Spork, Louise Suggs, and Marlene Bauer Vossier, the fdocumentary combines archival footage, historical re-enactments, and current-day interviews to give “long overdue credit to the pioneers of golf,” as directors Fisk and Schrader explain. Schrader penned the film’s script with Dana Lee and Maureen Simpson.
This is the feature directorial debut for both Fisk and Schrader. Fisk has worked as a cinematographer, editor, and producer on projects like “Margaret Mitchell: American Rebel.” Schrader previously produced the documentary “Paradise Garden,” and has written, directed, and produced shorts like “The Thorny Rose” and “Don’t Mess with Texas.” The duo collaborated on the 2015 short “The Battle for Bedtime Starring Batdad!” Schrader wrote and directed, while Fisk served as cinematographer.
“The Founders” will be released in the U.S. and Canada this spring. Check out the doc’s trailer below.
