The film tells the story of a mathematical prodigy (portrayed by Asa Butterfield) who faces unexpected challenges on his way to competing in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). Rafe Spall (What If, Life of Pi), Academy Award® nominee Sally Hawkins (Best Supporting Actress, Blue Jasmine, 2013) and Eddie Marsan (Sherlock Holmes, “Ray Donovan”) also star in the Samuel Goldwyn Films release that won Best Family Feature at the Bentonville Film Festival and Best Feature at the Palm Beach International Film Festival.
“The MAA American Mathematics Competition (AMC) is designed to strengthen student learning at all levels through the shared experience of a fun math contest,” said Michael Pearson, executive director of the MAA. “A Brilliant Young Mind shows how friendship and comradery are also an important part of preparing for the contest.” More than 350,000 students participate in the MAA AMC contests each year. Students at the middle school level take the AMC 8 contest, then move on to the AMC 10 and AMC 12 at the high school level. The main purpose of the AMC is to inspire interest in mathematics and develop problem solving abilities through challenging problems.
“We consider all of our contestants to be ‘brilliant young minds,’ and encourage anyone with an interest in math to enter our contests,” said Mark Saul, director of competitions at the MAA. Students who take the AMC 10/12 can qualify to participate the USA Mathematical Olympiad, the pinnacle of high school mathematics contests administered by the MAA. High scoring students are selected to represent the U.S. at the IMO, competing with their mathematical peers from around the globe.
The U.S. IMO team took first place at the 56th IMO held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, this summer. This year’s exam was the “hardest paper in the history of the IMO,” according to Geoff Smith (Bath University) in The Guardian.
A Brilliant Young Mind will be available on DVD & Digital on January 26, 2016, and is available for pre-order on iTunes at http://sonypictur.es/PzZr6k.
About AMCThe Mathematical Association of America is the largest professional society that focuses on mathematics accessible at the undergraduate level. The mission of the MAA's American Mathematics Competitions is to increase interest in mathematics and to develop problem solving through a fun competition. Teachers and schools benefit from the chance to challenge students with interesting mathematical questions that are aligned with curriculum standards at all levels of difficulty. ABOUT SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENTSony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) company. Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE’s global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition and distribution; television production, acquisition and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. For additional information, go to http://www.sonypictures.com.
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