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  • First Screening of RiseUp in Los Angeles

     RiseUp is gearing up for a couple of special screening events coming up in July! Buckle up, here we go…we are starting off with our long-awaited first Los Angeles screening at none other than the celebratory Grammy Museum in downtown LA! What a privilege and how exciting this is gearing up to be! This will be open to the public but watch out because reservations are required. We are expecting an extended list of industry guests and we are thrilled to be able to show the filmmaking community our documentary in such a prestigious venue. So if you are in Los Angeles on July 28th, be a part of this event, our first public screening in the city of angels. As usual, there will be a panel discussion after the film and we are inviting some surprise guests, so stay tuned, panelists will be announced soon. 

    Although RiseUp is essentially a Jamaican documentary film that spotlights Reggae, it transcends genre and niche, seamlessly weaving three distinct stories into one inspiring feature film that is both dramatic and vibrantly explosive. Some are saying that RiseUp is like a Jamaican 'Hoop Dreams' and the best movie to come out of the Caribbean in many years- a potential Best Documentary nominee for the 2011 Academy Awards. The film features appearances and performances by both arising and legendary artists.

    Directed by Luciano Blotta, a native of Argentina, and produced by Darrin Holender ('Sorority Row'), the film is the winner of the 2009 AFI/DISCOVERY SILVERDOCS Best Music Documentary Award, and was an audience favorite as an officially selected film at fifteen international film festivals, including IDFA and the Bahamas International Film Festival.
    Not since the Harder They Come and Rockers has a reggae film been able to reach worldwide audiences like RiseUp. In a recent interview with Australian press, Blotta stated, "I saw how much talent there is [in Jamaica],how flamboyant, different and creative all these people were, and it really inspired me."

    RiseUp has indeed connected to men and women, young and old, from all backgrounds. Audiences have been dancing, laughing and crying in their seats. Core reggae audiences and music doc fans have lauded the film for its authenticity and entertainment value, while general audiences have praised the film for its original storytelling, inspirational tone and beautiful images and sounds. Entertainment industry veterans who have viewed the film have commended Blotta's efforts as an invaluable contribution to both the Jamaican culture as well as the medium of documentary cinema.

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