Willie Pep

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Lore & Background

The film *The Featherweight* premiered at the 80th Venice International Film Festival, where it received a five-minute standing ovation. It was later selected as the closing film of the 54th International Film Festival of India and the showcase screening of the Museum of the Moving Image's First Look Festival. Director Robert Kolodny was awarded the prize for best director at both the Provincetown International Film Festival and the RiverRun International Film Festival. The film was released in the United States by mTuckman Media on September 20, 2024. During its opening weekend, it was the highest-grossing film at the Quad Cinema, selling out three evening shows on consecutive nights, which caused it to be held over for an additional week. After its theatrical run, Tribeca Films acquired *The Featherweight* for streaming worldwide.

Reader's Guide

The film was shot in Hartford, Connecticut in late 2021, using real locations from Willie Pep's life. Director Robert Kolodny, who worked as a documentary cinematographer on films like *Procession* and *All the Beauty and the Bloodshed*, cast both professional actors and locals to heighten the nonfiction aesthetic. The team included celebrated documentary filmmakers: Steve James as executive producer and Robert Greene as editor. The cast includes James Madio as Willie Pep, Ruby Wolf as Linda Pep, Keir Gilchrist as Billy Papaleo Jr., Stephen Lang as Bill Gore, Ron Livingston as Bob Kaplan, Lawrence Gilliard Jr. as Sandy Saddler, Shari Albert as Fran, and Imma Aiello as 'Mama' Papaleo. *The New Yorker* named *The Featherweight* one of the best films of 2024. On Rotten Tomatoes, 83% of 12 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.5/10. Metacritic assigned the film a score of 79 out of 100, based on five critics, indicating 'generally favorable' reviews.

Did You Know?

• The film *The Featherweight* premiered at the 80th Venice International Film Festival and received a five-minute standing ovation.
• Director Robert Kolodny previously worked as a documentary cinematographer on films like *Procession* and *All the Beauty and the Bloodshed*.
• The film was shot in late 2021 in Hartford, Connecticut, using real locations from Willie Pep's life.
• During its opening weekend, *The Featherweight* was the highest-grossing film at the Quad Cinema, selling out three evening shows on consecutive nights.
• Tribeca Films acquired *The Featherweight* for streaming worldwide after its theatrical run.