DURING FEB 1 - APR 08, 2007 MARTIN STREL SWAM 5,268 KMS (3274 MILES) OF THE AMAZON RIVER! HE DEDICATED THE SWIM TO THE PROTECTION OF THE RAINFOREST.

BIG RIVER MAN - FEATURE LENGTH DOCUMENTARY

BIG RIVER MAN is an environmentally aware documentary about an eccentric, larger-than-life Slovenian extreme swimmer. In February 2007 Martin Strel began an insane attempt to be the first person to swim the entire length of the world’s most dangerous river, the Amazon.

The Fish Man, as he was called by the local tribes, almost died in the process several times. Towards the end of his marathon ordeal his blood pressure was at heart attack level, his entire body full of subcutaneous larvae and besieged by dehydration and exhaustion.

Martin is an endurance swimmer who swims rivers – the Mississippi, the Danube, Paraná and the Yangtze prior to the Amazon – to highlight their pollution to the world. During this epic journey he suffered from blisters, sunburn, exotic stomach illnesses, all the while trying to avoid piranhas, anacondas, crocodiles, alligators, river sharks, and a small parasitic fish known as the candiru. Martin is also a rather overweight horse-burger loving Slovenian in his fifties, who drinks bottles of red wine to get extra power...even when swimming.

Martin serves as a metaphor for the "Everyman", and prove, once and for all, that one man can make a difference.

Film Reviews:

- Manohla Dargis, New york times

- Richard Luck, Channel 4, UK

- Robert Koehler, Variety

- Manohla Dargis, New york times (Dec 04, 2009)

- Linda Barnard, The Star, Canada

Film details:
Director: John Maringouin
Producers: Maria Florio, Molly Hassell, Molly Lynch, John Maringouin, Roger M Mayer, Kevin Ragsdale
Executive Producers: Mickey Cottrell, Olivia Newton-John
Co-producer: Borut Strel
Director of Photography: John Maringouin
Music: Rich Ragsdale
Narrator: Borut Strel
Cast: Martin Strel, Borut Strel, Matt Mohlke
Country: USA, UK
Running time: 100 min

Festival circuit:
Doha Tribeca Film Festival - Oct 2009
Woodstock Film Festival 2009
Warsaw Film Festival 2009
Monterrey Film Festival 2009
Melbourne international film festival - July 2009
New Zealand international film festival - July 2009
Moscow film festival - Moscow, Russia, June 2009
IFI Stranger than fiction film festival- Dublin, Ireland, June 2009
Edinburgh film festival - Scottland, UK, June 2009
Los angeles film festival - Los angeles, USA, June 2009
Sydney film festival - Sydney, Australia, June 2009
Telluride film festival - Colorado, USA, May 2009
Hotdocs film festival - Toronto, Canada, May 2009
Nashville film festival - Tennessee, USA, April 2009
True/false film festival - Missouri, USA, Feb 2009
Sundance film festival - Utah, USA, Jan 2009

Festival awards:
> Sundance 2009: Best Cinematography in World Cinema Documentary Competition
> Hamptons film festival 2009: Award for Pioneering Vision
> 2010 Cinema Eye Awards: 3 nominations (Jan 15 2010)

Worldwide Sales Agent:
> SALT COMPANY

Distribution:
> Revolver Entertainment, UK, theatrical release date: Sept 04, 2009
> Umbrella Entertainment, Australia/New Zealand, theatrical release date: Sept 10, 2009
> Planet Green - Discovery Communications North America, first TV airing: Jan 09, 2010
> Indie Pix Films - North America Home Entertainment, Release date: Dec 2010
> Mongrel Media - Canada, Theatrical, DVD, Release date: Feb, 2010
> Front Row Entertainment - MIddle East, Release date: to be announced
> Several other TV networks and VOD broadcasters around the world air Big River Man

Strel Swimming Adventures

More about Martin Strel and his current activities and organized swimming tours can be found at:
Strel Swimming Adventures
Lake Swimming Tours