Editors' Picks

Film documenting the Reno National Championship Air Races will open at IMAX theatres in the US on February 10, 2012.

(Los Angeles, Paris, and London) 3D Entertainment Distribution will host the IMAX industry premiere of "Air Racers 3D" (September 20) during the Giant Screen Cinema Association's Annual Conference at the Texas State History Museum IMAX Theatre in Austin. The film takes audiences into Nevada's "Valley of Speed" for a spectacular exploration of the fastest motorsport in the world: the legendary Reno National Championship Air Races. It marks the first time in the event's 48-year history that a film on the Air Races has been produced entirely in 3D.

"Air Racers 3D" documents the highly competitive world of air racing and features spectacular footage of highly-modified World War II-era aircraft, including the P-51 Mustang, Corsair, Bearcat and T-6. Every September, exceptional daredevil pilots fight for position, wingtip to wingtip, and attain speeds of over 500 mph (805 km/h) while skimming, a mere 50 feet (15.25 m) above the ground, around an 8-mile (13-km) oval course marked off by ten giant pylons.

"This action-packed film will be available as of February 2012 to aviation enthusiasts and IMAX theatre moviegoers around the world," said Francois Mantello, Chairman and CEO of 3D Entertainment Distribution. "It is a unique celebration of excellence in flight that will enthrall audiences with the thrill and excitement of a unique sporting event considered by many to be the NASCAR of the air. Sadly, this presentation at Austin's Bob Bullock IMAX Theatre comes just four days after the tragic events at this year's Races."

"Our entire production team joins us in extending our deepest sympathies and condolences to all the families affected by last Friday's heartbreaking accident at the Reno National Championship Air Races," said Christian Fry, who co-directed "Air Racers 3D" with Jean-Jacques Mantello.

With a budget of USD 5 million, "Air Racers 3D" required two years of active production. Principal 3D photography took place during the 2009 and 2010 events and was completed last June after filming air-to-air sequences using new stereoscopic technologies, including a helicopter-mounted gyro-stabilized aerial 3D camera rig, a custom wing mounted camera and 3D cameras placed inside the cockpit. All six classes of racing aircraft – Biplane, Formula One, Sport, T-6, Jet Class and Unlimited – are featured in "Air Racers 3D."

Appearing, among others, in the film are Bill Destefani's 1944 North American P-51D Mustang, "Strega" (pilot: Steve Hinton Jr.), Rod Lewis's Grumman Tigercat F7F-3, "Here Kitty Kitty" (pilot: Stewart Dawson), as well as "Rare Bear", a Grumman F8F Bearcat (pilot: John Penney), Raju Mann's 1969 Aerovodochody L-29 Delfin, "Raju Grace" (pilot: Heather Penney), and Marilyn Dash's 1974 Aerotek Pitts Special S-1S, "Ruby" (pilot: Marilyn Dash).

The tradition of air racing began nearly 100 years ago with World War I barnstormers and eventually evolved into grand racing events organized to celebrate the aviation heroics of World War II. The last of their kind, the Reno Air Races began in 1964 as a revival of these high-speed competitions celebrating horsepower, ingenuity and the piloting skills of the men who operated these planes under tremendously perilous and dire circumstances.

"Air Racers 3D" is produced by 3D Entertainment USA and Pretend Entertainment in association with Stereoscope. The film is directed by Christian Fry and Jean-Jacques Mantello and features an original script written by Christian Fry and Rick Dowlearn. The soundtrack was composed by Christophe Jacquelin. The film is executive produced by Francois Mantello, John Constantine and Jeffery Pierce, and produced by Christian Fry and Raul Leckie.

Resources:

http://www.airracers-thefilm.com/

http://www.3defilms.com/