Despite the efforts of hundreds of searchers, it wasn't until the ninth day that Donn dragged himself to the edge of the East Branch of the Penobscot River. In the distance, across the water, was the only occupied cabin within twenty miles. After nine days of facing ruthless conditions and staring death in the face, Donn had finally found his way out.

FULL INTRO FROM OUR DOCUMENTARY: Experience Donn's story through newspaper and radio accounts from 1939.

DONN FENDLER EMERGES FROM THE WOODS: See recently found 8mm footage of the day Donn exited the woods as he recounts his tale.  

WHY ARE WE RAISING FUNDS?

"I travel to countless speaking engagements and book signings every year, and everywhere I go people always ask me, 'when are they going to make a movie?'  I've always had to tell them that I didn't know.  Until now."

                                                             -Donn Fendler

The goal of this kickstarter campaign is NOT to raise all the funds necessary to make the entire feature film.  Rather, we know just because you have a great story, a great script, and an audience that has been asking for your project for over 30 years (like we do) it doesn't mean that you're going to get your movie made.   The main goal behind this campaign is to raise funds in order to film a "proof of concept" or "teaser trailer" that will help garner more interest in the feature film and show investors what Donn's story would look, sound, and feel like on the big screen.  Our strategy is to present potential investors with a script (so they know how the story is being told), a business plan (to show how their money will be spent) and the teaser trailer to give them an idea of the type of film they'll be helping produce.

 Due to the fact we'll be filming our trailer as if it were a piece of the larger film, we'll be incurring normal feature costs.  These costs include everything from equipment rental of cameras, airplanes, and 1930's period clothing, down through crew housing, transportation, and food.  Not surprisingly these numbers quickly add up.  This is why we need your help.

FULL MPBN INTERVIEW:

72 YEARS IN THE MAKING

72 years after Donn's adventure he continues to recount his tale of survival to thousands of people each year and continues to inspire all who hear it.  Although hearing Donn tell his story first hand is a one-of-a-kind experience, people are always asking him when someone's going to make a movie of his experience.  Donn has never had an answer for them... until now. 

In the spring of 2010 filmmakers Ryan Cook and Derek Desmond contacted Donn to see if they could create a full-length narrative feature film based on his story.  The two young men began sitting down with Donn and attending his speaking engagements, recording the entire process for their own research.  The filmmakers quickly learned that Donn had sold off his life rights over twenty years ago, and although nothing had ever come of it, Donn still did not own those rights.  Without the rights, there could be no film.  Derek and Ryan set off on an eighteen month long journey of returning the rights to their proper owner.  After battling a big shot producer from Texas and almost having everything swept out from underneath them, the boys had finally accomplished their goal.  They had gotten Donn's rights back.

Finding Donn Fendler:  Lost On A Mountain In Maine 72 Years Later is the result of all the filming the boys did while trying to obtain the rights in 2010-2011.  Derek and Ryan wanted to spread the word about their overall goal of making Donn's story into a narrative feature and the process they went through in obtaining the rights.  Along with their own journey, the documentary has countless interviews with Donn and footage from his speaking engagements as he recounts the adventure in his own words. The film also includes 8mm footage just recently discovered from the day Donn was taken out of the woods.  Hearing Donn tell his story and seeing the incredible 8mm footage is something you don't want to miss!

The Book

Donn Fendler's story was first recounted in his now famous book Lost On A Mountain In Maine.  The book was written and published just three months after Donn emerged from the woods during the summer of 1939.  Since then the book has become an iconic part of Maine's history and since 1972 has been required reading by every 4th grader in Maine public schools.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: WWW.DONNFENDLERFILM.COM