Films

10 Films Selected for 2017 European Parliament LUX Film Prize | Trailers

[caption id="attachment_22969" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] SUMMER 1993[/caption] The ten films selected for the 11th European Parliament’s LUX Film Prize were revealed on Sunday at the 52nd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. From the 10 films in the Official Selection, 3 entries will be selected and announced at the Venice Days press conference in Rome at the end of July 2017 as those taking part in the LUX Film Prize Competition. These films will compete to be the winner of the 2017 LUX Film Prize, and will become the core of the 2017 LUX Film Days. The 2017 LUX Film Prize winner will be awarded on November 15 in Strasbourg. The LUX FILM PRIZE Official Selection (in alphabetical order) A CIAMBRA by Jonas Carpignano (Italy/Brazil/United States/France/Germany/Sweden) BPM (BEATS PER MINUTE) by Robin Campillo (France) GLORY by Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov (Bulgaria/Greece) HEARTSTONE by Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson (Iceland/Denmark) KING OF THE BELGIANS by Peter Brosens and Jessica Woodworth (Belgium/Netherlands/Bulgaria) SÁMI BLOOD by Amanda Kernell (Sweden/Denmark/Norway) SUMMER 1993 by Carla Simón (Spain) THE LAST FAMILY by Jan P Matuszyński (Poland) THE OTHER SIDE OF HOPE by Aki Kaurismäki (Finland/Germany) WESTERN by Valeska Grisebach (Germany/Bulgaria/Austria) More about the 10 films… SUMMER 1993 is an intimate, autobiographical study of how hard it can be to fit in; it portrays a child’s experience of learning to live with grief and harsh reality after she finds herself orphaned at just six years old. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAnezFuhUBs HEARTSTONE tells the story of two teenagers from rural Iceland getting to grips with their own identity and sexuality, as well as with the delicate and cruel transition to adulthood. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9Tcw-_SrcA A CIAMBRA traces the rite of passage to adulthood of a 14-year-old Roma boy living in the neighborhood of the same name in Calabria, a marginalized community described by journalists as a real ghetto. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cizugv2Y1AY SÁMI BLOOD tells the vibrant tale of a young Lapp girl who dreams of a different life and distances herself from her community with great anguish because of the racist attitudes they have to face. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zpt2yf0nCM BPM (BEATS PER MINUTE) follows a group of Act Up activists who fight to lend the AIDS problem more visibility in 1992 France and encourage faster progress to be made in terms of research and prevention. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fhO2A4SL24 WESTERN injects a story about German workers on a construction site for a hydroelectric power station in Bulgaria with ingredients from the cowboys-and-Indians classics, addressing the issues of economic immigration and integration. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8f8zHDwv_c THE OTHER SIDE OF HOPE weaves together the stories of two men who have both struck out in search of a new life: an old Finnish man who buys a restaurant and a young Syrian immigrant who struggles to find a safe haven in Europe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I5Tnaf28kk GLORY follows a poor, middle-aged linesman for Bulgaria’s national railway company, who decides to hand piles of banknotes he finds on the rails one day in to the police, triggering a fight against corruption, as well as one for justice and dignity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeEs2_6-AXU THE LAST FAMILY shows the lives of the family of Polish painter Zdzisław Beksiński, in what could be described as a compact version of a 28-year reality show, as he recorded most of his day-to-day life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfFt9RfO9Bc KING OF THE BELGIANS follows a fictitious King of Belgium forced to come back from an official trip when Wallonia suddenly declares its independence, while a solar storm causes communications to collapse and airspace to shut down. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG9vmzUIOSk
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VIDEO: Watch Trailer for Award-Winning Indie Film SOME FREAKS, in Theaters on August 4

[caption id="attachment_16212" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] SOME FREAKS[/caption] The award winning indie film Some Freaks starring Thomas Mann (ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL) and breakout Lily Mae Harrington (“The Glee Project”) will open in theaters and On Demand on August 4, 2017. Some Freaks, written by, and the directorial debut of Ian MacAllister-McDonald, follows one-eyed high school senior Matt (Thomas Mann) who meets plus size Jill (Lily Mae Harrington) and falls more in love than he ever thought possible. However, when graduation comes and Jill moves cross-country to go to college, she undergoes a major physical transformation – much to Matt’s surprise when he arrives to visit her. While Matt struggles to accept Jill’s new look, Jill begins to question whether Matt is really the man she thought she knew. As the distance widens between them, the characters are forced to confront who they are, who they were, and who everyone thinks they’re supposed to be.
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Justine Skye, Tyler Dean Flores and Seann William Scott to Star, Keanu Reeves to Exec Produce GREEN DOLPHIN

[caption id="attachment_22948" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Justine Skye, Tyler Dean Flores and Seann William Scott[/caption] Justine Skye, Tyler Dean Flores and Seann William Scott will lead the cast of Green Dolphin, written and directed by Chris Kenneally. The film is produced by Russell Geyser of RainMaker Films, Jordan Yale Levine and Jordan Beckerman of Yale Productions, and Shruti Ganguly of Honto88. Keanu Reeves and Clay Pecorin serve as Executive Producers. A dramatic coming-of-age road movie, Green Dolphin follows 15 year old Robinson (Tyler Dean Flores) and 20 year old Keesha (Justine Skye) as they venture cross-country in an attempt to escape the grasp of abusive foster parent and drug-dealer Martin (Seann William Scott). When they breakdown midway, Keesha and Robinson discover a new family that could turn their life around. The film marks the narrative feature debut for writer/director Chris Kenneally. Kenneally previously directed the acclaimed feature documentary Side by Side, which featured interviews with iconic directors including Martin Scorsese, George Lucas, David Lynch and Richard Linklater. Keanu Reeves produced and narrated the film; Green Dolphin marks Reeves and Kenneally’s second collaboration. Green Dolphin marks the feature film debut for rapidly rising R&B singer/songwriter Justine Skye. Signed to Roc Nation Records, Skye’s latest EP 8 Ounces combines the legendary songwriting skills of The Dream, award winning production of Tricky Stewart and Justine’s raw emotion and talent. Justine Skye is currently working on her debut album. Lead actor Tyler Dean Flores previously appeared in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises and in television series including Blindspot and Chicago Fire. Seann William Scott has starred in many iconic hit films including Role Models, The Rundown, Old School, T, the critically acclaimed Goon and the billion dollar comedy American Pie franchise. Scott will next be seen starring in the sequel Goon 2: Last of the Enforcers, coming out this September. “I could not be more pleased to have Justine and Tyler on board to bring our central characters Keesha and Robinson to life on film,” commented Kenneally. “They are remarkably gifted rising talents, and I can’t wait to see them work opposite Seann William Scott, whose challenging role allows him to show off his dramatic chops.” Executive Producer Keanu Reeves added, “Chris and I first started discussing the concept for Green Dolphin when we worked together on Side by Side. This a true passion project for me and Chris and we’re so thrilled to get started on production.” Justine Skye is represented by SupaNova Management and MBK Entertainment. Tyler Dean Flores is represented by CESD. Seann William Scott Scott is represented by ICM Partners, 3 Arts, and legal firm Sloane, Offer, Weber, and Dern.
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25 Independent Short Films in 2017 PBS Online Film Festival

[caption id="attachment_22934" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Black Hills Canyon Skating[/caption] The Webby Award-nominated PBS Online Film Festival will return for a sixth year July 17 – July 28, 2017, featuring 25 short-form independent films. Viewers are encouraged to vote for their favorite film to win the “Most Popular” award. And, for the first time ever, a panel of eight jury members will select their favorite film of the festival for the “Juried Prize”. Short films featured in the PBS Online Film Festival include: CAAM “It Is What It Is” Digging deep into family history for answers to questions about his identity, Cyrus finds some things might be better off left in the past. Detroit Public TV WTVS “Periphery” A woman gets a new lease on life when she meets someone less fortunate. ITVS “Guns on Campus” Fifty years after the first recorded mass shooting in U.S. history took place at the University of Texas in Austin, a new “campus carry” law allows people to carry concealed handguns on all public university campuses in Texas. KLRU “The Secession” A story about two Texas boys, a secession, and egg rolls. “U R a Dial Tone” A sign language interpreter is emotionally and physically sucked into her clients’ lives. KTTZ “Lockbox” A girl receives a mysterious gift that will unravel secrets from the past. Latino Public Broadcasting “Amigas with Benefits” Amigas with Benefits is a short dramedy about an elderly bride-to-be who nearly has her wedding day ruined by an uninvited guest. Louisiana Public Broadcasting “Last Light” On the verge of her mother’s death, Addie returns home to shed light on her dark past. “Si” Si, a temperamental six-year-old, gets a goldfish after begging for a puppy. NALIP “Dad” In the course of a difficult day, Maria, a creative young girl, and her hardworking father must discover a way to mend love and memories while confronting loss. NBPC “Kojo” A short profile piece that showcases the charismatic and talented drummer Kojo Odu Roney. In this exclusive interview Kojo offers his thoughts on Jazz, being home-schooled, traveling and his biggest influence, his father Antoine Roney. “You Can Go” A high school administrator talks down a troubled student. PIC “Maria” When a family crisis strikes, an ailing Polynesian matriarch must find the strength to lead her family one last time. POV “Our Voices Are Rarely Heard” A visceral snapshot of how inmates survive solitary confinement. Reel South “A Thousand Midnights” Chronicles the contemporary manifestation of the economic and social histories of Black Americans who came to the north during the Great Migration in search of economic opportunities. The implications of their migration, and the lack of economic opportunity they encountered, has far reaching consequences for Black America today. South Dakota Public Broadcasting “Black Hills Canyon Skating” While the Black Hills of South Dakota may lack the elevation and snow that makes for skiing, they make up for it with ice-providing intrepid winter explorers with miles of canyon streams on which to ice skate. South Florida PBS “SunGhosts” A mini-documentary about SunGhosts, an up and coming indie rock band from Miami. Twin Cities PBS “Rogue Taxidermy Artist Sarina Brewer” From goats with fishtails to cats with wings, Sarina Brewer celebrates animals in her art. “Syrian Photographer Osama Esid” Photographer Osama Esid seeks connection from his American neighbors to Syrian Refugees. Vermont PBS “The Collinwood Fire” A news reporter and a filmmaker turn a 1908 elementary school fire into a media sensation. “State Trooper” A prisoner acts out his guilt, anger, and fear through dance. Vision Makers Media “Legacy” Nikki Lowe’s journey of being a mother, daughter, sister, and Native warrior. WHRO “Our Nation” An African-American boy in Norfolk, VA in 1915 confronts racism in The Birth of a Nation. Wisconsin Public Television “Little Man” An animated spoken-word piece that tells Steven Rodriguez’s experiences of being an elder brother, son of a drug addicted mother and struggling but dedicated college student. WORLD Channel “Finding America: The Fresh Prince of Anacostia” Kymone Freeman keeps his D.C. neighbors strong by helping them tell their stories.
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VIDEO: Watch Trailer for Netflix Docu Series DAUGHTERS OF DESTINY

Netflix has released the trailer for the documentary series Daughters of Destiny directed by Oscar(R) winning filmmaker Vanessa Roth, set to launch globally on July 28, 2017. Daughters of Destiny is a 4-part Netflix original documentary series that chronicles the lives of five girls from Indian families who are among the so-called “Dalit” caste and most impoverished communities in the world. The series witnesses the girls grow up (ranging in age from 7 to 23 over the course of the 4 episodes) while they are raised at Shanti Bhavan, a unique co-ed residential school in Tamil Nadu. The expectation for these girls and all the children who attend Shanti Bhavan is that they must grow up to support themselves, lift their families and communities out of poverty and contribute to the larger world. Directed by Academy Award(R) winning filmmaker Vanessa Roth (Freeheld, Best Documentary Short, 2007), the series highlights the struggle of students as they strive to define themselves, re-define gender and class and create a new future for the generations that will come after them. The strength and power of the girls’ own storytelling and dramatic experiences over the 7 years of filming from the gates of Shanti Bhav, into their homes brings viewers through their stories of family, love, loss, hard work and courage. An original music score by Academy Award(R) and Emmy winning composer A.R Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire, 2008), punctuates this emotional journey. As we watch them grow up, they travel between home and school, and are forced to navigate the stark contrasts between family traditions and their modern and global views and knowledge. Daughters of Destiny highlights the journey of a generation of children on the precipice of a new life that is inconceivable to their ancestors, and brings into question the notions of fate, free will and the human longing for opportunity, purpose and meaning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b49QEQsNUj0
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LeBron James is Producing NBA Documentary Film Series for Showtime

LeBron James along with Maverick Carter and award-winning filmmaker Gotham Chopra have begun production on a three-part documentary film series on the NBA that is slated to premiere on SHOWTIME in 2018. The project will examine the modern history of the National Basketball Association and the league’s impact on global popular culture. “We are thrilled to be collaborating with LeBron, Maverick and Gotham on what will be a comprehensive look at one of the most influential sports institutions in the world,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “This series of films will join a growing list of must-see documentaries on SHOWTIME, films that reveal the myriad ways sports and culture intersect and influence each other.” “We developed the idea for these films because of the incredible, generational impact some of the NBA’s most successful players have had on every aspect of American culture,” said Maverick Carter, CEO of SpringHill Entertainment. “Gotham is the perfect filmmaker to bring these stories to life, and SHOWTIME is the right platform to showcase how they were able to transcend the game and shape the culture in an unprecedented way.” “Despite the fact that I am a Boston Celtics fan to the bone, collaborating with Maverick and LeBron was an inspired opportunity,” added Chopra (“Kobe Bryant’s Muse”, “Religion of Sports”). “Sports in general and specifically the NBA provide a great backdrop for storytelling. But these films offer us a chance to go beyond that; to weave a broader cultural narrative in our current social climate. With the support of David Nevins and the progressive SHOWTIME team, we have a chance to say something truly resonant. That’s the goal.” The documentary film series is a presentation of SHOWTIME Documentary Films and SHOWTIME Sports. The film project is directed by Gotham Chopra with executive producers LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Rich Paul, Gotham Chopra, Martin Desmond Roe, Chris Uetwiller and Datari Turner.
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PHOTOS: Check out 6 Character Posters for THE LITTLE HOURS Featuring Alison Brie, Kate Mucucci, and More

[caption id="attachment_19933" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Alison Brie, Kate Micucci and Aubrey Plaza appear in The Little Hours by Jeff Baena.[/caption] Check out the six character posters for The Little Hours featuring Alison Brie, Dave Franco, Kate Mucucci, Aubrey Plaza, John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon. The film directed by Jeff Baena and also starring Fred Armisen, Jemima Kirke, Nick Offerman, Adam Pally, Jon Gabrus, Lauren Weedman will open in theaters on Friday, June 30, 2017. Oh, and check out the new The Little Hours GIFs HERE, created in harmonious partnership by Gunpowder & Sky and GIPHY Medieval nuns Alessandra (Alison Brie), Fernanda (Aubrey Plaza), and Ginevra (Kate Micucci) lead a simple life in their convent. Their days are spent chafing at monastic routine, spying on one another, and berating the estate’s day laborer. After a particularly vicious insult session drives the peasant away, Father Tommasso (John C. Reilly) brings on new hired hand Massetto (Dave Franco), a virile young servant forced into hiding by his angry lord. Introduced to the sisters as a deaf-mute to discourage temptation, Massetto struggles to maintain his cover as the repressed nunnery erupts in a whirlwind of pansexual horniness, substance abuse, and wicked revelry.
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Documentary SWIM TEAM on Competitive Swim Team of Teens on Autism Spectrum Sets Release Date | Trailer

The award-winning feature documentary Swim Team, directed by Lara Stolman, chronicles the rise of a competitive swim team in New Jersey made up of diverse teenagers on the autism spectrum. The film will be released in theaters this July, opening in New York on July 7th, 2017 and in Los Angeless on July 21, 2017; and will have its national TV debut during PBS POV’s 30th season on Monday, October 2, 2017. Swim Team is a feature documentary chronicling the rise of a competitive swim team made up of teenagers on the autism spectrum. Based in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, the cast of Swim Team is largely Latino and Asian, minorities that are underrepresented in competitive swimming and underserved in autism intervention and education. The film follows three of the team’s star athletes, boys on the cusp of adulthood as they face a future of exclusion and dependence. But everything changes when they come together as a team with parent coaches who train them with high expectations and zero pity. As the team vies for state and national Special Olympics championships, Swim Team captures a moving quest for inclusion, independence and a life that feels winning. “When people ask me how I found the story of Swim Team, I say it found me. Children with developmental disabilities are routinely excluded from community activities, often as early as preschool. Being told “no,” – your child can’t be in the regular class, your child wont keep up in little league, your child isn’t going to college – is something families caring for children with disabilities hear often. Since children on the spectrum are particularly prone to drowning, swimming is a crucial skill but it’s not easy to find appropriate teachers and programs willing to take on a child on the autism spectrum. While exploring swim lessons for my own children, I stumbled upon the Jersey Hammerheads team in formation recruiting children on the autism spectrum and I was immediately struck by the energy and optimism of the families that were coming together to form the team. Some of the kids were teenagers and had never been on a sports team before. And some couldn’t yet swim. With the Hammerheads families, I had found a group of parents who refused to take no for an answer. They were saying YES and as a community, it was galvanizing for them. As a mother, I was so personally inspired by what they hoped to accomplish, I knew I had to share their story. I hope my film provides inspiration for families everywhere raising children with unanticipated challenges.”
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VIDEO: New Poster + Watch Robert Pattinson in New Trailer for GOOD TIME

Good Time starring Robert Pattinson today released a new trailer and poster. The film opens in theaters on August 11. Good Time directed by the Safdie brothers – Josh and Benny Safdie – also stars Benny Safdie, Barkhad Abdi and Jennifer Jason Leigh . The Safdie brothers’ exhilarating New York thriller stars Robert Pattinson in a headlong rush into crime and chaos. The overwhelmingly positive reactions out of the Cannes Film Festival mark a thrilling turn for the filmmakers and a career-defining performance for Pattinson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upsR80YmwWc
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New Trailer + Poster + Images for French Musical Comedy FOOTNOTES

Footnotes, the French whimsical musical comedy has released a new trailer and poster. The film directed by Paul Calori and Kostia Testut, and starring Pauline Etienne, Olivier Chantreau, François Morel, Loïc Corbery and Julie Victor, opens in New York on Friday, July 14th at the Village East Cinema with a national release to follow.
Inspired by the films of Jacques Demy and Stanley Donen, Footnotes is a whimsical and original musical comedy about Julie, a young woman struggling to make ends meet in France’s radically changing economy. Living out of a backpack, Julie spends her days jumping from job to job until she’s finally offered a temporary stockroom position at a women’s luxury shoe factory. After making friends with the boss’s spunky receptionist Sophie and the ever-charming factory truck driver Samy, Julie thinks the hard times are behind her. But Julie’s dreams of stability collapse when management threatens to close down the factory. As her intrepid group of female colleagues get together to go on strike, Samy and the other truck drivers decide to side with the company’s scheming CEO. Julie must choose whether to keep a low profile (and a shot at permanent employment) or to resist and fight back on the picket line.
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ALMOST SUNRISE Award-Winning Documentary on Veterans “Moral Injury” Opens July 14 in NY | Trailer

Almost Sunrise, a feature documentary by the award-winning filmmaking team behind Give Up Tomorrow (a 2013 News & Documentary Emmy nominee) Michael Collins (director) and Marty Syjuco (producer), is a timely and groundbreaking look at what could be a missing piece of the puzzle—the true nature of the psychological wounds of returning soldiers known as “moral injury” and the undeniable potential power of meditation and nature therapy in helping veterans to reclaim their lives. As part of the film’s week-long theatrical release at IFC Center in New York, Collins and Syjuco along with Tom Voss and Anthony Anderson, the subjects of Almost Sunrise, will participate in a Q&A at a special screening on opening night, Friday, July 14 (time TBD), and throughout the film’s opening weekend. Almost Sunrise tells the inspiring story of Voss and Anderson, two Iraq veterans, who, in an attempt to put their haunting combat experience behind, embark on an extraordinary 2,700-mile trek on foot across America. While the physical trek across snowy mountains and vast deserts is punishing, the inner journey proves to be, by far, the most dangerous mission they will ever undertake. Like many of their fellow returned servicemen and women, Tom and Anthony are tackling post traumatic stress, or PTS, but the pair are simultaneously dealing with an unseen battle scar called “moral injury”—often manifested as an extreme brand of guilt and shame that arises when one goes against one’s own moral code. While PTS, characterized by fear, can be treated with drugs, therapists are finding that no amount of medication can treat the pain that comes from carrying a moral burden. Almost Sunrise is the first feature documentary film to introduce the emerging term “moral injury,” what some experts believe may eventually be recognized as the signature war wound of our generation. While the film exposes some of the brutality of war, it does not dwell there. “It’s ultimately a story of hope and potential solutions,” Collins says. Most importantly, the film reveals the promise of holistic practices for healing. When Tom signs up for a special breathing workshop for veterans, he must confront his deepest spiritual identity. He encounters Father Thomas Keating, a renowned Trappist monk who has counseled veterans for decades, who gently illuminates the need to turn inward to achieve true peace, guidance that culminates in a remarkable transformation, rarely depicted on screen. Where the stereotypes of “the broken veteran” and “homecoming hero” leave off, Almost Sunrise continues onward, presenting audiences with an unprecedented portrait of those who return from war; richer, far more complex beings—driven by a universal human aspiration for happiness—who discover life’s soaring possibilities. “One of the main pillars of our Impact Campaign is ‘Connecting Communities,’ and every week we experience this in meaningful ways at screenings across the country,” says Syjuco. “Our vision for the campaign is to walk with veterans on a path towards healing by following these four pillars: 1. Educate on Moral Injury; 2. Promote Wellness; 3. Connect Communities; and 4. Change Legislation.” Since making its World Premiere on Memorial Day 2016 at Telluride Mountainfilm Festival, where it also launched its immersive two-year Impact Campaign, Almost Sunrise has gone on to screen at impressive 125+ festival, community and live-event screenings across the country, including VA Hospitals and a special screening at the Wisconsin State Senate. University and academic screenings have included Harvard, Columbia, Georgetown, NYU, Stanford, Yale and International House NYC. The many awards and accolades for Almost Sunrise include the 2017 Media Award for Best Film from the National Association of Social Workers (NASW)—social workers comprise highest number of staff at VA hospitals. At Telluride Mountainfilm, the film won the “Moving Mountains” Award, a top jury prize, which recognizes a film with a powerful social impact. It was also an official selection of the prestigious Human Rights Watch Film Festival, AFI Docs, and was the Centerpiece Presentation at Milwaukee Film Festival. It also took home the Audience Award at Reelworld Toronto and won Best Thought Provoking Film at Waimea Ocean Hawaii.
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Watch Chadwick Boseman as Thurgood Marshall in First Trailer for MARSHALL

[caption id="attachment_22840" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Marshall[/caption] The official trailer has been released for Marshall, the biopic on Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American justice of the Supreme Court. The film directed by Reginald Hudlin and starring Chadwick Boseman, Kate Hudson, will open in theaters on October 13, 2017.
Long before he sat on the United States Supreme Court or claimed victory in Brown v. Board of Education, Thurgood Marshall (Chadwick Boseman) was a young rabble-rousing attorney for the NAACP. The new motion picture, Marshall, is the true story of his greatest challenge in those early days – a fight he fought alongside attorney Sam Friedman (Josh Gad), a young lawyer with no experience in criminal law: the case of black chauffeur Joseph Spell (Sterling K. Brown), accused by his white employer, Eleanor Strubing (Kate Hudson), of sexual assault and attempted murder.
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