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New York Road Runners Launches East 89th St Productions Content Studio with "Final Finishers" Documentary Premiering During 2025 Tribeca Festival

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BYNYRR Staff
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New York, May 8, 2025 — Nonprofit New York Road Runners (NYRR), which produces 60 annual adult and youth races including the TCS New York City Marathon, today announced the launch of East 89th St Productions, a new studio dedicated to producing original content that aligns with New York Road Runners’ vision of building healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running. East 89th St Productions pays homage to New York Road Runners’ rich heritage and its early headquarters in an Upper East Side brownstone at 9 East 89th Street.

The first project to be released by New York Road Runners under the East 89th St Productions banner is a documentary short film titled “Final Finishers,” produced with Tribeca Studios, which captures the raw emotion of the final hours of the TCS New York City Marathon as the very last of tens of thousands of runners cross the finish line.

“There are thousands of incredible stories at the starting line of every New York Road Runners race,” says Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO of New York Road Runners. “Our goal with East 89th St Productions is to the tell the most compelling of those stories, with the support of creative partners like Tribeca Studios, and in doing so, inspire millions more to experience the transformative power of running in their own lives and communities.”

Developed, produced, and to be distributed in partnership with Tribeca Studios, the original content division of Tribeca Enterprises, “Final Finishers” will premiere during the 2025 Tribeca Festivalwith a screening on Thursday, June 12, followed by an afterparty presented by New York Road Runners Foundation Partner New Balance.

“Tribeca Studios is honored to partner with New York Road Runners to share stories of resilience, determination, and community,” says Jane Rosenthal, Co-Founder of Tribeca Festival. “’Final Finishers’ celebrates those whose courage—not speed—defines their journey. These powerful stories unite us, and we’re thrilled to premiere the film at Tribeca with filmmaker Rudy Valdez.”

Directed by Rudy Valdez, a two-time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, the 30-minute documentary highlights the inspiring story of runners who persevere against all odds as they race for personal triumphs rather than records.

Says Valdez, “I’ve always been drawn to the people and stories that don’t usually get the spotlight. The ones who fight like hell to get to the finish line, even when nobody’s watching. ‘Final Finishers’ is about that fight. It’s about resilience, about choosing to believe in yourself when everything around you says you shouldn’t. These runners aren’t just finishing a race; they’re finishing a promise they made to themselves. I make films like this because I believe there’s incredible beauty and power in that choice, in that quiet, determined kind of courage. It deserves to be seen, and it deserves to be celebrated.”

The final finishers featured in the documentary include:

  • Martinus Evans: A 38-year-old who turned an insult from a doctor into a lifelong mission, vowing to run a marathon despite being told it was impossible. This defiance led him to become a multiple-time marathon finisher, certified run coach, and founder of the Slow AF Run Club, a global movement promoting inclusivity in running. Now a bestselling author and father, Martinus continues to challenge stereotypes, proving that every body is a runner’s body.
  • Hannah Gavios: A 31-year-old who overcame a spinal cord injury from a traumatic attack in Thailand determined to become a marathon runner. While life threw her a curveball, she remained resilient and never stopped truly living, completing five marathons including two TCS New York City Marathons as a Final Finisher.
  • Janelle Hartman: A 62-year-old psychiatric social worker who found her passion for running at 49 and has since completed hundreds of New York Road Runners races while volunteering at just as many. A dedicated member of the running community, she finished the 2018 TCS New York City Marathon as a Final Finisher and believes that age should never be a barrier to trying something bold and new.
  • Michael Ring: A 61-year-old member of the Prospect Park Track Club who has demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout his running journey. After being diagnosed in 2014 with acute motor axonal neuropathy, a rare variant of Guillain-Barre syndrome, he faced significant physical challenges but remained undeterred. Michael’s commitment to the running community is evident in his completion of 33 marathons, including a streak of 20 consecutive New York City Marathons.

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