Zurich Film Festival kicks off its 10-year jubilee edition on September 25 with the biopic music film GET ON UP from director Tate Taylor. The film tells the life story of James Brown, the Godfather of Soul. Young star Chadwick Boseman plays the charismatic singer. Chadwick Boseman and Tate Taylor will be in Zurich to attend the premiere.

In 2011, director Tate Taylor presented his Academy Award winning THE HELP as the ZFF’s Closing Film. Now he’s back with GET ON UP. He trod the Green Carpet on that occasion with Octavia Spencer, who plays the aunt of protagonist James Brown in this production. GET ON UP follows the soul & funk musician’s rise from extreme poverty to his status as a superstar of the music industry.

James Brown (1933-2006), raised in the US state of Georgia, discovered music during a stint behind bars, he joined a gospel group after being released. His distinctive voice soon helped the band secure a recording contract. Their first record „Please, Please, Please“ was released in 1956 and became a bestseller.

Brown enjoyed further success with such titles as „Try Me“, „I’ll Go Crazy“ and „Lost Someone“. His breakthrough came in 1963 with „Live at the Apollo“. His charismatic stage presence during his live performances was key to his success. Further hits, such as the song „Sex Machine“, made him one of the busiest and soon-to-be most successful artists in show business, appearing at up to 300 concerts per year.

As a self-confident Afro-American, James Brown emerged as an icon of the USA’s civil rights movement. His song title „Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud“ became one of its slogans. Brown has also appeared in many film and TV productions, the most well-known of these being the film BLUES BROTHERS (1980).

In addition to Chadwick Boseman and Octavia Spencer, the cast further comprises such acting talent as Dan Aykroyd, Viola Davis and Lennie James. GET ON UP was produced, amongst others, by Academy Award winner Brian Grazer and Rolling Stones’ lead singer Mick Jagger. GET ON UP hits cinemas on September 26 in French-speaking Switzerland, October 9 in German-speaking Switzerland and November 6 in Ticino.