13 Hours in a Life Raft

Egyptian adventurers Team O2, Omar Nour (left) and Omar Samra (right), at the start line of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. Ben Duffy

Cinema Libre Studio, which is based in the Los Angeles area, has acquired worldwide rights to Beyond The Raging Sea, which it describes as a daring true-life rescue story of adventurers Omar Nour and Omar Samra.

The studio plans to release the film in the United States and United Kingdom with limited theatrical runs this spring.

Egyptian adventurers Team O2, Omar Samra (left) and Omar Nour (right), at the start line of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. Ben Duffy

Beyond The Raging Sea follows these two Egyptian adventurers as they take on the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, billed as “the world’s toughest row.” It is an unsupported, 3,000-nautical-mile journey from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean island of Antigua.

Sponsored by DHL, their Team O2 dedicated its row to raising awareness of the global refugee crises. On the morning of day nine, more than 600 miles into the journey, Team O2 was hit by 45-knot winds and 26-foot waves that capsized the boat, which did not self-right as it was supposed to do.

What followed was 13 tumultuous hours of the crew being deserted, afraid and constantly battered by rough seas in a barely inflated life raft. They were ultimately rescued by a cargo vessel that rerouted to respond to their mayday. 

Omar Samra and Omar Nour from Beyond the Raging Sea. Courtesy Cinema Libre Studio

Cinema Libre Studio says the film includes “jaw-dropping, you-are-there footage” of this ordeal, narrated by the people who lived it.

Omar Nour is an entrepreneur and retired professional triathlete. He represented Egypt on the Olympic triathlon circuit from 2010-17. He co-founded Ventum, a performance bike company, and Enduro Supply, which distributes sports brands across the Middle East.

Omar Samra is an adventurer, mountaineer, entrepreneur and inspirational speaker. He was the first Egyptian to climb Mount Everest and the seven summits, and to ski to both the geographic South and North Poles.

Beyond the Raging Sea is written and directed by Marco Orsini, with original music composed by George Acogny. Orsini is founder of the International Emerging Talent Film Association. His award-winning films and scripts have been translated into many languages, including French, Japanese, Arabic, Italian, Mandarin and Spanish.

Team O2 sighted in a raft next to their capsized boat from the deck of the Kefalonia. Beyond the Raging Sea

Is this film a first for Cinema Libre Studio? Not by a long shot. The studio has released more than 200 films. Some of its newer offerings include the documentary Creating Woodstock, about the 1969 rock ’n’ roll event; The Great Postal Heist, which goes inside the U.S. Postal Service and features political activist Ralph Nader; and Land of the Little Rivers, which is about a network of tributaries in New York’s Catskill Mountains that are a mecca for fly-fishermen from all around the world.

Where to learn more: click over to cinemalibrestudio.com.

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