Superior, an independent feature film by Michigan native Edd Benda that was shot entirely in the Upper Peninsula, will be screened at Northern Michigan University on Wednesday, Oct. 14. This free event begins at 8:30 p.m. in 1100 Jamrich Hall. It is sponsored by the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center. Marquette is one of nine stops on the “Official Superior Roadshow” in Benda’s home state. The movie from Beyond the Porch Productions premiered this summer at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Calif., as part of the Dances With Films festival. It also will be screened at the Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis Oct. 16-25.

Inspired by a true story, Superior takes place in the summer of 1969, when Derek Suntila is weeks away from the Vietnam War and Charlie Eskola is weeks away from his first days at Michigan Tech University. Before the best friends go their separate ways, they leave their small U.P. hometown on one final adventure: a two-week, 1,300-mile bike ride around the massive and unforgiving Lake Superior. With two-speed Schwinn bicycles and limited preparation, Derek and Charlie pedal through the massive northern backwoods of Michigan, Minnesota and Canada. Along the way, they face hunger, exhaustion and the kind of people in the world who never want to be found.

Benda, a native of Birmingham who made summer visits to relatives in the Keweenaw during his youth, describes the movie tour as “a way to bring our film to the people who may not otherwise have an opportunity to see their beautiful state on the big screen. While we hope to be bringing the film nationwide in the near future, Superior belongs first and foremost to the place that inspired me to make the movie.” Another area showing is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, at the Vista Theatre in Negaunee.

Benda will participate in a Q&A after the film. T-shirts and posters will also be available for purchase. To see the trailer and related information, visit superiorthemovie.com. For specific details regarding each screening, individuals are encouraged to follow Superior at facebook.com/superiorthemovie or twitter.com/superiormovie.

About Beyond the Porch Productions

Beyond the Porch Productions was founded in 2012 by Michigan native Edd Benda and Washington native Alex Bell while students at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. Edd and Alex found harmony as a director and a director of photography, and they have worked in tandem on a wide array of projects. Their films range from silly commercial promos to their largest undertaking, the feature film Superior. They have several new projects in development.

About Superior

Superior was filmed on location in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the summer of 2014. The production team behind the film consists of 11 young filmmakers who traveled more than 7,000 miles round trip in a truck and three sedans from Los Angeles to the most remote regions of the Keweenaw Peninsula to tell a story true to its origins. Inspired by the real journey taken by Karl Benda and Dan “Dudza” Junttila more than 40 years ago, SUPERIOR is a snapshot of America in 1969 when futures were uncertain, and yet the most outlandish adventures remained possible.

For All Media Inquiries
, Contact:

Edd Benda
, (412) 708-8503 or edd@beyondtheporch.com