Executive producers have local roots
The Moton Museum is proud to host the Virginia premiere of Free Angela & All Political Prisoners by Peabody Award winning filmmaker Shola Lynch, Thursday, February 28th at 6pm. Special guest host, celebrated actor-producer Tim Reid, will lead an audience discussion following the film. This free public event is sponsored in part by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. Limited seating is available. Doors open at 5pm.
How does a young professor end up on the FBI’s Most Wanted list and become an international political icon?
Director Shola Lynch works to answer this question through skillfully crafted historical footage and new interviews with one of the world’s most complex and controversial activists, Angela Davis. For the first time in 40 years, the acquitted former U.S. political refugee and prisoner, now 68, speaks openly about the tumultuous events of her twenties.
Free Angela is a gripping look into the historical incidents that created an international movement to free activist Angela Davis in the early ‘70s.
You know the story, but these are the facts you haven’t heard. It’s an edge-of-your seat journey through the tumultuous life of Davis, whose social justice activism implicates her in a botched kidnapping attempt on a judge.
The film first premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival to rave reviews and will open at AMC theaters in select major cities on April 5th. At the request of the film’s creators, the Virginia premiere will take place inside Farmville’s former R.R. Moton High School, now the Moton Museum and Virginia’s sole National Historic Landmark of the Civil Rights Movement.
Hollywood producers with local roots
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Hollywood heavyweights Shawn ‘Jay-Z’ Carter, Jada Pinkett Smith and husband Will Smith have teamed up to bring Free Angela to the big screen. “Shola Lynch has crafted an intricate and compelling film about Angela Davis,” remarks Executive Producer Jay-Z. “Roc Nation is honored to be part of a creative collective that can present such a riveting story.”
Executive Producer Jada Pinkett Smith adds, “We at Overbrook Entertainment are very proud to support this intriguing documentary about the life of Angela Davis.”
Jay-Z and Jada Pinkett Smith both have deep ties in the Farmville community. Jay-Z’s family roots are in Buckingham County. Jada Pinkett Smith is the great-niece of longtime Farmville businesswoman, the late Mrs. Harriet White. Relatives of both stars continue to reside in the area.
Watch the trailer
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A National Historic Landmark, the Moton Museum honors the courage and sacrifice of Prince Edward County, Virginia students and families, and their leading role in moving America from segregation toward integration. Our story includes the 1951 Moton Student Strike; the Brown I (1954), Brown II (1955) and Griffin (1964) U.S. Supreme Court decisions; the five-year (1959-64) Prince Edward County public school closing; and the 1963-64 Prince Edward Free Schools.
For more information, call 434-315-8775 or visit www.motonmuseum.org.
I’ll simply say, I was moved by this conference. I remember looking at the time frame first. Then I thought to myself…this is about Angela Davis. I will take the time to watch the whole thing. Now I have to go see this movie. Thank you Angela Davis (Author/Activist/Political Icon), Shola Lynch (Director/Film Creator) and Eisa Davis (Playwright/Actor). My mind has been inspired, and my heart has been strengthen. This conference has given me that boost I needed to deal with my own struggles.
And I must also thank the producers: Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith and Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter. Thank you as well…Toronto International Film Festival, for being such an opened minded organization.
God bless you all!
Is good to see that people that made it famously are coming back to their roots the show on it 2 people before them and they don’t forget about the segregation and the things that my ancestors and my family had to Indure my family played a part in it as well having to go through this personally but I’ve never known growing up that this place that was right across the street from my grandmother’s house what holds such great history that people can be proud of and look back on thank you to all the producers for bringing and reminding us about these times how far we came and that we have supporters thank you