A series of film stills from LAOCH: DEFY THE ODDS.

THE JOURNEY

In 2019, sports journalist Barney Spender of Ragged Rock Films brought Tommy’s story to our attention. We began this project with the intention of creating a short documentary. But sometimes the story requires you to follow, observe, and be patient.

43 days of filming took place over a span of five years in Ireland, England, and Germany. We remained steadfast through a global pandemic, and Tommy experienced health challenges, recovery, and redemption.

The film is currently in the film festival circuit and looking for distribution.

FESTIVALS:

World premiere at Galway Film Fleadh (Ireland, July 2024)

Louth International Film Festival (Ireland, September 2024)

International Sports Film Festival (Italy, November 2024)

North American premiere at Chicago Irish Film Festival (USA, March 2025)

Finalist, ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York 2025

AWARDS:

2024 Best in Louth Award – Louth International Film Festival

2024 Audience Choice Award – Louth International Film Festival

A series of behind the scenes photos from the production.

L to R: Tommy gives Stephan a lesson on the Art of Guinness. An interview, through the lens of the close up camera. Liz with Tommy & medals post comp. The fantastic Mr. McCague. Group selfie at the World Dwarf Games 2023.

Laoch: Defy the Odds

a STEPHAN MAZUREK film

Produced & Written by:

Stephan Mazurek & Liz Sung

Director & Director of Photography:

Stephan Mazurek

Editor, 2nd Camera, and Graphics:

Liz Sung

Original Music:

Dana Niu

Producer:

Sarada Duvvuri

Co-producer:

Barney Spender

Associate Producer:

Sarah Hand

Produced in association with:

Lotus Beast Productions

Liz Sung Productions

Mazurek Films

Ragged Rock Films

This film was made possible with a First Stage Documentary Development Fund from Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and by our generous Crowdfundr supporters.

Duration: 78’, 56’, and 52’
Genre: Human Interest, Sports
Format: 4K shoot / 2K finish
Language: English
Accessibility: Open Captions and Audio Description available

THE FILMMAKERS

LOTUS BEAST PRODUCTIONS crafts documentary films that promote human connection. From intimate character studies to unique community portraits, joyful expressions of existence and gripping life challenges, our stories inform, amplify, and provoke.

Based in Chicago, Lotus Beast Productions was formed in 2019 by long time collaborators

Stephan Mazurek and Liz Sung. With a combined 20-year working experience in film and video production, Lotus Beast was founded with the goal of creating long form documentaries that could give our stories the depth it deserved.

Co-founder & Director

STEPHAN MAZUREK

Mazurek's work as a director of photography on full length documentaries include Louder Than A Bomb, Love is a Verb, The Road Up, Million Dollar Pigeons, and Rockfield: The Studio on the Farm. Combined with his experience as a director and theatrical projections designer, Mazurek brings vision and creativity to the company.

Co-founder, Producer & Editor

LIZ SUNG

Sung is a multifaceted artist working as a producer, director, editor, videographer, writer, and motion graphics designer. Her documentary work includes short films for museums and not-for-profits such as Center on Halsted, Illinois Holocaust Museum, Joel Hall Dancers and Center, and the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History.

Producer

SARADA DUVVURI

With a career spanning nearly two decades, Duvvuri has facilitated the production of over 300 hours of television for an array of networks, including Netflix, Disney +, Discovery Networks, and HBO. Most recently, she worked as a line producer on A Compassionate Spy, a documentary film released in theaters nationwide in 2023 and is on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.

THE JOURNEY

THE FILMMAKERS

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