--- title: "Boston Marathon Organizers Run Toward Documentary" id: "31589" type: "post" slug: "boston-marathon-organizers-run-toward-documentary" published_at: "2016-01-05T20:34:41+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T16:47:53+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/01/05/boston-marathon-organizers-run-toward-documentary/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/01/05/boston-marathon-organizers-run-toward-documentary.md" excerpt: "The documentary Boston, currently being produced with the help of the Boston Athletic Association, is one of many films being produced about the Boston Marathon. Unlike most of the other films, the feature hopes to look beyond the 2013 terror..." taxonomy_category: - "Marketing / Communications" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "documentary" - "history" - "marathon" - "Media" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Industry Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Boston Marathon Organizers Run Toward Documentary The history of the Boston Marathon feels a little slim these days, focused more on the tragedy that defined the event nearly three years ago and less on the 115 years that had come before. But a documentary film currently in the works, complete with official support from the Boston Athletic Association, hopes to remedy that situation. [Boston (opens in a new tab)](http://bostonmarathonfilm.com/) , which was conceived before the 2013 finish-line bombing that killed three people and injured more than 260, is an attempt by the association to honor the marathon’s long history. BAA is working with director Jon Dunham, who directed the 2007 feature film *Spirit of the Marathon*, on the project. Dunham, who himself has run a number of marathons (26, to be exact—coincidence?), [tells the Associated Press (opens in a new tab)](http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/01/03/us/ap-us-film-boston-marathon-documentary.html) that the film will focus on the city’s efforts to take back the race, but it will also touch on some of the greatest figures in the city’s greatest race. “It’s a huge undertaking. We’ve got 300 hours of stuff we shot, not counting the archival material,” [Dunham told the AP (opens in a new tab)](http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/01/03/us/ap-us-film-boston-marathon-documentary.html) . *Boston* is one of an array of in-production films and television shows focused on the marathon, but many of those projects—[particularly a film (opens in a new tab)](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4572514/) produced by Boston native Mark Wahlberg that [has drawn criticism from locals (opens in a new tab)](http://www.avclub.com/article/boston-not-wicked-cool-mark-wahlbergs-boston-marat-217924) —are focused not on the marathon itself but on the 2013 bombing. But *Boston*‘s filmmakers argue that the broader story of the race is a more interesting one—one they look forward to telling. “Over the years, the Boston Marathon has had so many extraordinary stories of people achieving and accomplishing things,” *Boston* producer Megan Williams told the AP. “It’s like looking at cultural and social change over the last century through the lens of this major sporting event.” The film, which is still looking for funding, is expected to be released in April 2017. [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#documentary](https://associationsnow.com/tag/documentary/) [#history](https://associationsnow.com/tag/history/) [#marathon](https://associationsnow.com/tag/marathon/) [#Media](https://associationsnow.com/tag/media/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [Video2018 Power of A Awards – Institute of Food Technologists (IFT)October 3, 2018](https://associationsnow.com/2018/10/03/2018-power-of-a-awards-institute-of-food-technologists-ift/) - [VideoCelebrating Black History Month: Hanif Smith Shares His StoryFebruary 1, 2024](https://associationsnow.com/2024/02/01/celebrating-black-history-month-hanif-smith-shares-his-story/) - [VideoUrban Land Institute- Project Recovery: Rebuilding Los Angeles After the January 2025 WildfiresSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/urban-land-institute-project-recovery-rebuilding-los-angeles-after-the-january-2025-wildfires/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: All for the Love of Chicago: Rethinking the Destination ExperienceSeptember 10, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/10/associations-now-presents-all-for-the-love-of-chicago-rethinking-the-destination-experience/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2016%2F01%2F05%2Fboston-marathon-organizers-run-toward-documentary%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !