Set in modern day California, Race You to the Bottom follows Nathan (Williams), a travel journalist, as he is assigned to write about romantic hot-spots in the Napa Valley. He invites Maggie (Benson), the woman he has been seeing for months, to come along for a passionate weekend getaway. Trouble is, Maggie already has a boyfriend. And so does Nathan. What transpires is a seductive and heartbreaking journey through Napa’s wine country and into the complicated affair between these two dynamic young lovers.

Director Russell Brown makes his feature film directorial debut with Race You to the Bottom, which he also wrote and produces alongside Roni Deitz. Brown has previously worked in short films, two of which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. One of these films, Mama Laura's Boys, a half hour documentary about the oldest blues club in Los Angeles, was aired by the PBS affiliate station in Southern California in honor of black history month and after the season premiere and conclusion of Martin Scorsese's Blues series. After graduating from USC Film School, he held creative executive positions with Laura Ziskin Productions at Columbia Pictures, and Saturday Night Live Studios at Paramount Pictures. Producer Roni Deitz gained recent acclaim for the feature Harry and Max, which premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize as Best Dramatic Feature.

“The team at here! films and Regent Releasing have a great track record opening specialized films like ours,” said director Russell Brown. “I'm excited to begin this new partnership with here! and thrilled to have the opportunity to share Amber and Cole's performances with a larger audience.”

Stars Amber Benson and Cole Williams have been steadily establishing themselves as steadfast talent in the film and television industry. Benson has starred in over a dozen films, including Steven Soderbergh’s King of the Hill and the Harvey Keitel-starrer Imaginary Crimes. She rose to fame during her three-season recurring performance on the hit show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” as Tara Maclay. Williams has appeared on the hit comedies “8 Simple Rules” and “Scrubs” as well as the recent critically acclaimed film North Country starring Charlize Theron. He has worked in independent features for a number of years, most notably director Christopher Munch’s Harry and Max, a 2004 Sundance Grand Jury Prize finalist.

Race You to the Bottom also stars Jeremy Lelliott (WB’s “7th Heaven”), Danielle Harris (Urban Legend, “Roseanne”), and Justin Hartley (NBC’s “Passions”). The film was shot by acclaimed cinematographer Marco Fargnoli, whose work has been featured on NBC, FOX, The History Channel, and the Sundance Institute, as well as in the recent Sundance Film Festival entry The Sleepy Time Gal.

“here! is thrilled to add Race You to the Bottom to our growing catalog of award winning film acquisitions. Russell’s brilliantly sharp and accomplished debut certainly continues here!’s trend of authentic and innovative projects that aim to both enlighten and entertain our loyal and growing audience," said Mark Reinhart, Executive Vice President of Distribution and Acquisitions at here! Films.