Click photo for slideshow of the event.

A military and police escort took the cast and crew of Warrior Champions to a sold out screening and scholarship benefit in Little Rock, Arkansas during Veterans week. Hosted by General Wesley Clark the event included a VIP reception, a screening of the film, and a Q and A with the Filmmakers Brent and Craig Renaud, Producer Vincent Insalaco, and Warrior Champions Melissa Stockwell and Kortney Clemons. After the screening Kortney Clemons signed copies his book AMPED, about his life in war and sports.

Filmmakers Brent and Craig Renaud with VA secretary Shinseki and Assistant Secretary Tammy Duckworth

Warrior Champion Scott Winkler signs agreement with Secretary Shinseki and the VA

Secretary Shinseki and assistant secretary Tammy Duckworth screened Warrior Champions in Washington DC. on October 21, as a part of the signing ceremony that establishes a 10 million dollar partnership between the VA and the US Paralympics. It was especially exciting for us to see Tammy Duckworth again. In 2006, we profiled Tammy in the film Taking the Hill, when she ran for Congress in Illinois. Also present at the ceremony were Congressman Patrick Murphy, Congressman Steve Buyer and Congressman Eric Massa, among others.

Brent Renaud discusses the making of Warrior Champions on NPR.

CLICK TO LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW

A ten minute sneak peak of Warrior Champions was shown, and two of the stars of the film, Kortney Clemons and Carlos Leon testified before Congress on August 5th. The purpose of the hearings was to lobby Congress for additional resources to support the development of Paralympic programs for returning injured military veterans, and to develop more community Paralympic programs around the country. The result was the unanimous approval of the full 10 million dollars requested.

With the premiere of Warrior Champions this fall we will continue to work with the US Paralympics to create education and awareness materials for distribution nationally through the Department of Defense, Department of Veteran Affairs, and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.