"Everything But Fear", a short documentary about the life of renowned NYC boxing trainer Francisco Mendez, will be part of this year's Dances With Films festival August 26-September 12 at Hollywood's famed TCL Chinese Theatres.

Produced and directed by Bryan TwZ Brousseau, an award-winning filmmaker based in New York City, "Everything But Fear" will tell the story of Mendez, a Mexican immigrant, who rose from humble beginnings to open one of the country’s most famous boxing gyms in New York City.

Tenemos todo menos miedo – we have everything but fear – is a phrase that inspired Francisco in his dream to create a premier training facility that centered around hard work, family, and united the community of boxers under his guidance.

The boxing community was stunned when the legendary trainer and mentor died of COVID-19 during the shutdown of NYC in 2020.

SYNOPSIS

Everything But Fear is a short documentary about Francisco Mendez, a renowned boxing trainer and founder of Mendez Boxing, New York City’s premier boxing gym. Tenemos todo menos miedo – we have everything but fear – is a phrase that guided Francisco from rural Mexico to 26th Street in Manhattan, and this film is a testament to everything that he achieved as well as what the New York City boxing community lost when he died of COVID-19.

Mendez Boxing is located a few blocks from Madison Square Garden and welcomes new boxers, amateurs, and professionals. It’s also where some of the best trainers in boxing work, and this combination of personalities, skill levels, and styles has made Mendez Boxing one of the best boxing gyms in the country.

As a trainer, Francisco taught a traditional, Mexican style of boxing, which was to keep moving forward in the ring. From training countless fighters, to building his gym, to beating cancer, Francisco always kept moving. Everything But Fear shows how one man rose from humble beginnings to establish a name that will always be associated with hard work, family, and the community of boxing.