Post by kaya on Apr 4, 2007 13:20:10 GMT -5
AFRICA UNITE DEBUTS IN NORTH AMERICA
AT NEW YORK AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL
“How good and how pleasant it would be, before God and Man, to see the unification of all Africans…” Bob Marley
New York – The feature documentary AFRICA UNITE will make its highly-anticipated North American debut at the 14th annual New York African Film Festival. The film, starring Rita Marley, Danny Glover, Angélique Kidjo, Lauryn Hill and members of the Marley family, is produced and directed by Stephanie Black (Life and Debt, H-2 Worker).
The documentary highlights the vision for African unity that Bob Marley was devoted to throughout his music career and presents an inspiring tribute to a man who defined his own aim as “spreading the message of unity and equality to end the needless suffering of mankind.”
On February 6th 2005, over 350,000 people gathered in the historic Meskel Square of Addis Abeba, Ethiopia to celebrate what would have been Bob Marley’s 60th birthday. The twelve-hour concert, featuring a host of internationally acclaimed artists, is interwoven throughout the film, highlighting the singer’s global influence. American Lauryn Hill passionately debuts new material, Benin-born Angélique Kidjo jumps into the audience during “Mama Afrika”, and legendary Jamaican artist Bob Andy serenades Ethiopia. The concert culminates with a spectacular nighttime performance by Rita Marley and the I-Threes and all of Marley’s sons singing their father's songs.
Critical to the Africa Unite vision, the film also focuses on UNICEF-sponsored symposia and youth-oriented workshops that were held during the week-long celebration. Taking their inspiration from such Bob Marley songs as “War” and “Get Up Stand Up”, these sessions deal with issues including conflict transformation, youth and women’s empowerment, the prevention of corruption, awareness and treatment of HIV/AIDS and other major diseases, and the centrality of human rights. Speaking at a symposium dedicated to dialogue with youth, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Danny Glover, whose production company Louverture Films executive produced the film with Tuff Gong Pictures, stresses that “it takes time to build, years to organize, and that’s what we have to commit ourselves to. This is a process if we want to change this continent. In Guinea, in Kenya, in too many other countries, less than 30% of children go to school. It is a human right to have an education. And that begins right here with you. Bob Marley would’ve loved to have been here with us today... He loved Africa, and the fact that we are here to carry on this work is most important.”
“AFRICA UNITE is a call to action catalyzed by Bob Marley’s musical legacy,” says producer/director Stephanie Black. Pointing to past Pan-African movements, Black underscores: “We know that change occurs when we refuse to be silent in the face of injustice and inequity. It’s our aim with this documentary to further Bob Marley’s eternal message of hope and struggle across continents and generations.”
Quote: Rita
ABOUT THE AFRICA UNITE ORGANIZATION
www.africa-unite.org
ABOUT LOUVERTURE FILMS www.louverturefilms.com
Dedicated to the development and production of films of historical relevance and social purpose, Louverture Films is also passionate about the objective of nurturing artistic creativity and integrity. The New York based company owned and operated by Danny Glover and Joslyn Barnes has a slate of progressive features and documentaries, which include the critically-acclaimed BAMAKO (a New Yorker Films release) and the action-epic TOUSSAINT. The epic deals with the Haitian Revolution and the heroic life of Toussaint Louverture, who led one of the only successful slave uprisings in history. His efforts decisively defeated the French, Spanish and British imperial armies and established the first independent black Republic: Haiti. The film will be directed by Danny Glover.
* * *
AFRICA UNITE SCREENING SCHEDULE
Saturday, April 7 @ 8:00pm
Premiere
Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center
NOTE: This Saturday screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Stephanie Black, executive producers Rita Marley and Danny Glover and other members of the Marley family. Limited press and photography opportunities will be conducted during this time period.
Producer/Director: Stephanie Black
Country: USA/Jamaica/Ethiopia Year: 2007
Language: English
Time: TBD Film Types: Color/DVD Rating: TBD
Production Companies: Tuff Gong Pictures, Louverture Films
Executive Producers: Rita Marley, Danny Glover, Joslyn Barnes
Camera: Arthur Jafa, Malik Sayeed, Kyle Kibbe, John Bentham, Carla Swanson, Chris Browne, Gregory McPhail, Axel Baumann
Editors: Laura Israel, John Mullen
Sound: Caleb Moses, Gautam Choudhury, Dave Curtin, David Curbelo
Cast: Rita Marley, Danny Glover, Ziggy Marley, Angélique Kidjo, Lauryn Hill, Teddy Afro, Bob Andy, Cedella Booker, Damien Marley, Stephen Marley, Julian Marley, Kyamni Marley, Cedella Marley, Sharon Marley, Dudley Thompson.
AT NEW YORK AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL
“How good and how pleasant it would be, before God and Man, to see the unification of all Africans…” Bob Marley
New York – The feature documentary AFRICA UNITE will make its highly-anticipated North American debut at the 14th annual New York African Film Festival. The film, starring Rita Marley, Danny Glover, Angélique Kidjo, Lauryn Hill and members of the Marley family, is produced and directed by Stephanie Black (Life and Debt, H-2 Worker).
The documentary highlights the vision for African unity that Bob Marley was devoted to throughout his music career and presents an inspiring tribute to a man who defined his own aim as “spreading the message of unity and equality to end the needless suffering of mankind.”
On February 6th 2005, over 350,000 people gathered in the historic Meskel Square of Addis Abeba, Ethiopia to celebrate what would have been Bob Marley’s 60th birthday. The twelve-hour concert, featuring a host of internationally acclaimed artists, is interwoven throughout the film, highlighting the singer’s global influence. American Lauryn Hill passionately debuts new material, Benin-born Angélique Kidjo jumps into the audience during “Mama Afrika”, and legendary Jamaican artist Bob Andy serenades Ethiopia. The concert culminates with a spectacular nighttime performance by Rita Marley and the I-Threes and all of Marley’s sons singing their father's songs.
Critical to the Africa Unite vision, the film also focuses on UNICEF-sponsored symposia and youth-oriented workshops that were held during the week-long celebration. Taking their inspiration from such Bob Marley songs as “War” and “Get Up Stand Up”, these sessions deal with issues including conflict transformation, youth and women’s empowerment, the prevention of corruption, awareness and treatment of HIV/AIDS and other major diseases, and the centrality of human rights. Speaking at a symposium dedicated to dialogue with youth, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Danny Glover, whose production company Louverture Films executive produced the film with Tuff Gong Pictures, stresses that “it takes time to build, years to organize, and that’s what we have to commit ourselves to. This is a process if we want to change this continent. In Guinea, in Kenya, in too many other countries, less than 30% of children go to school. It is a human right to have an education. And that begins right here with you. Bob Marley would’ve loved to have been here with us today... He loved Africa, and the fact that we are here to carry on this work is most important.”
“AFRICA UNITE is a call to action catalyzed by Bob Marley’s musical legacy,” says producer/director Stephanie Black. Pointing to past Pan-African movements, Black underscores: “We know that change occurs when we refuse to be silent in the face of injustice and inequity. It’s our aim with this documentary to further Bob Marley’s eternal message of hope and struggle across continents and generations.”
Quote: Rita
ABOUT THE AFRICA UNITE ORGANIZATION
www.africa-unite.org
ABOUT LOUVERTURE FILMS www.louverturefilms.com
Dedicated to the development and production of films of historical relevance and social purpose, Louverture Films is also passionate about the objective of nurturing artistic creativity and integrity. The New York based company owned and operated by Danny Glover and Joslyn Barnes has a slate of progressive features and documentaries, which include the critically-acclaimed BAMAKO (a New Yorker Films release) and the action-epic TOUSSAINT. The epic deals with the Haitian Revolution and the heroic life of Toussaint Louverture, who led one of the only successful slave uprisings in history. His efforts decisively defeated the French, Spanish and British imperial armies and established the first independent black Republic: Haiti. The film will be directed by Danny Glover.
* * *
AFRICA UNITE SCREENING SCHEDULE
Saturday, April 7 @ 8:00pm
Premiere
Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center
NOTE: This Saturday screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Stephanie Black, executive producers Rita Marley and Danny Glover and other members of the Marley family. Limited press and photography opportunities will be conducted during this time period.
Producer/Director: Stephanie Black
Country: USA/Jamaica/Ethiopia Year: 2007
Language: English
Time: TBD Film Types: Color/DVD Rating: TBD
Production Companies: Tuff Gong Pictures, Louverture Films
Executive Producers: Rita Marley, Danny Glover, Joslyn Barnes
Camera: Arthur Jafa, Malik Sayeed, Kyle Kibbe, John Bentham, Carla Swanson, Chris Browne, Gregory McPhail, Axel Baumann
Editors: Laura Israel, John Mullen
Sound: Caleb Moses, Gautam Choudhury, Dave Curtin, David Curbelo
Cast: Rita Marley, Danny Glover, Ziggy Marley, Angélique Kidjo, Lauryn Hill, Teddy Afro, Bob Andy, Cedella Booker, Damien Marley, Stephen Marley, Julian Marley, Kyamni Marley, Cedella Marley, Sharon Marley, Dudley Thompson.