USA / 2024 / 120 min / English / Biographical Drama
Inspired by Jeff Leen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book, the true story chronicles Mildred Burke, the first million-dollar female athlete in history. Millie, a young single mother defies societal norms by becoming a professional wrestler during a time when female wrestling was illegal in most of the U.S. Starting her career by competing against men at carnivals, she builds an impressive record and paves the way for women’s wrestling to gain acceptance.
Despite her success, Millie’s journey is marked by personal struggles, including raising her son on the road, the tragic death of her wrestling protege, and a tumultuous relationship with her manager and ex-husband, Billy Wolfe. Her story highlights her triumphs, such as headlining main events, bringing women of color into the sport, and participating in the first female “shoot match” for a title fight. “Queen of the Ring” captures the golden age of female pro wrestling and celebrates Millie’s role in changing the culture and achieving unprecedented success.
DIRECTOR: Ash chose to pursue music first as an artist, touring in a band and teaching himself the business through a DIY lifestyle. Using all the knowledge he learned from the road, he started his own record label. Sumerian Records has now become one of the top independents in the world for rock and alternative music, with several Grammy nominations and record setting Billboard chart metrics for the hard rock genre. Sumerian recently celebrated a historic achievement with the first Grammy nomination in the history of the Recording Academy for a solo female artist in the “Best Metal Performance” category, featuring avant-garde singer Poppy.
Ash’s first feature, “American Satan,” won several awards on the festival circuit before being distributed by Miramax. The film had a theatrical release and was subsequently picked up by Showtime. Ash expanded on this success by writing and directing the limited series spin-off, “Paradise City.”
DIRECTOR STATEMENT: Storytelling has always been my greatest passion, and “Queen of the Ring” represents a culmination of my journey both personally and professionally. At the age of 34, I finally met my father, acclaimed director John G. Avildsen, known for iconic films such as “Rocky” and “The Karate Kid.” Building a beautiful bond with my father as an adult was life-changing, deeply influencing my approach to storytelling and imbuing my work with a profound sense of purpose and authenticity. Growing up without a father defined me in my youth, but becoming best friends with him later in life has been transformative.
Contact: aimee@intrinsicvaluefilms.com
Special Guest: Ash Avildsen, Emily Betts Rickards, Francesca Eastwood, Gavin Casalegno, Cara Buono, Aimee Schoof
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