Stay up to date on the latest Tribeca news and special offers with our newsletter. Sign up now.
12 Mighty Orphans

Spotlight Narrative

New York Premiere

FEATURE | United States | 118 MINUTES | English |

12 MIGHTY ORPHANS

Drama, Biography, Sports

12 Mighty Orphans tells the true story of the Mighty Mites, the football team of a Fort Worth orphanage who, during the Great Depression, went from playing without shoes—or even a football—to playing for the Texas state championships. Over the course of their winning season these underdogs and their resilient spirit became an inspiration to their city, state, and an entire nation in need of a rebound, even catching the attention of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The architect of their success was Rusty Russell, a legendary high school coach who shocked his colleagues by giving up a privileged position so he could teach and coach at an orphanage. Few knew Rusty's secret: that he himself was an orphan. Recognizing that his scrawny players couldn't beat the other teams with brawn, Rusty developed innovative strategies that would come to define modern football.


CAST & CREDITS

Directed by Ty Roberts

12 Mighty Orphans is Ty Roberts’s second feature film. Previously, he directed the award-winning film The Iron Orchard. Roberts also produced and directed a variety of documentaries, music videos, short films, and branded content.

Director
Ty Roberts
Producer
Houston Hill, Brinton Bryan, Michael De Luca, Angelique De Luca, Ty Roberts
Screenwriter
Ty Roberts, Lane Garrison, Kevin Meyer
Cinematographer
David McFarland
Composer
Mark Orton
Editor
James K. Crouch
Executive Producer
Mike Barr, Ryan R. Ross, Matt Barr, Kyle Stroud, Ryan R. Johnson, Martin Sheen, Rhett Bennet, Scott Helbing, J. Todd Harris, Greg McCabe, George Young Jr.
Co-Producer
Lane Garrison, Camille Scioli Chambers, Anne Fleitas
US Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Cast
Luke Wilson, Vinessa Shaw, Martin Sheen, Robert Duvall, Wayne Knight, Jake Austin Walker, Lane Garrison, Levi Dylan, Jacob Lofland, Treat Williams, Scott Haze

CONTACTS

Press Contact
Scott Feinstein
42West
New York, NY 10036
Phone: 212 413 0806
Scott.Feinstein@42west.net
Print Source
Jason Brenner
Sony Pictures Classics
New York, NY 10010
Phone: 212 833 8842
Jason_Brenner@spe.sony.com
US Sales Contact
Jason Brenner
Sony Pictures Classics
New York, NY 10010
Phone: 212 833 8842
Jason_Brenner@spe.sony.com
International Sales Contact
Jason Brenner
Sony Pictures Classics
New York, NY 10010
Phone: 212 833 8842
Jason_Brenner@spe.sony.com