North Carolina Film Advances
New Showings in Wilmington, N.C. and Cannes, France
Raleigh, N.C. ... Since debuting at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, feature film "Dar He: The Lynching of Emmett Till" has received high acclaim and continues to advance in the film festival circuit. Highlights include:
- Pre-selected to show at the 9th Pan African Film Festival in Cannes, France, April 24-28.
- Selected as centerpiece of Opening Ceremonies for the 11th Annual North Carolina Black Film Festival in Wilmington, on March 22.
- Actor Mike Wiley, who performs all 36 roles in the feature film "Dar He", will receive the Excellence in Acting Award at the North Carolina Black Film Festival on March 22.
- "Dar He" was selected as Best Feature Film at the Charlotte Black Film Festival, March 1-3.
As previously announced, the German premiere for "Dar He" will take place in Berlin at the 27th Black International Film Festival May 2-6.
ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE
"Masterful Performance" by Mike Wiley in "Dar He" / Premieres set for LA and Berlin
Raleigh, N.C. ... In an acting tour de force, one man, Mike Wiley, performs all 36 roles in the feature film "Dar He: The Lynching of Emmett Till." Wiley and the North Carolina filmmakers deliver riveting performances in the story, trial, and unbelievable confessions of those accused of Emmett Till's murder in this 1955 tragedy which changed the course of history in the United States.
A review of the film by the 20th Pan African Film Festival reports: "A masterful performance by Mike Wiley." Deirdre Haj, Executive Director of the Full Frame Film Festival says: "Mike Wiley's ability to transform himself into many characters carries this film much farther than the usual acting triumph of multiple characters..." See the review at: http://www.wix.com/robunderhill/darhemovie#!reviews
The official movie trailer for "Dar He" can be viewed at www.DarHeMovie.com
Two and a half years in the making by award winning North Carolina filmmakers, the World and European premieres are now set for "Dar He". A screening for North Carolina media has been added to the calendar.
World Premiere: Will be hosted by the 20th Pan African Film Festival on Friday, Feb. 17, in Los Angeles, Calif. With annual attendance in excess of 40,000 people, PAFF is the largest, most prestigious international Black film festival in the U.S. http://2012.paff.org/
European Premiere: Will be held at the 27th Black International Cinema, Berlin, Germany. The Festival runs May 2 - 6, 2012. http://www.black-international-cinema.com/BIC12/bic_12.htm
"Dar He: The Lynching of Emmett Till" was adapted from the critically acclaimed one man show written and performed by local theatre heavyweight, Mike Wiley, similarly titled "Dar He: The Story of Emmett Till." It is a true-crime drama of a 14-year old Black boy from Chicago murdered for allegedly whistling at a White woman while visiting family in Money, Mississippi in 1955. The screenplay was crafted from public record and the historic interviews conducted by William Bradford Huie of Look magazine. When the story was published, it became a lightning rod across the nation for moral outrage. "His death was a spark that ignited the Civil Rights Movement in America," Ed Bradley, Emmy Award-winning journalist.
"Dar He" was created by acclaimed North Carolina filmmakers who collaborated on other films including, "Empty Space" (2009) and "Wolf Call" (2010). These films are winners of fifteen festival awards, eight nominations, dozens of official selections, special screenings, and other honors. "Wolf Call" is currently on festival tour and nominated for a Black Reel Award for Outstanding Short Film. The international success of both these films helped inspire the making of "Dar He". Mr. Wiley is winner of numerous best actor awards from 2009 to 2011 for his performance in both films, including Best Actor at the 25th Black International Cinema Berlin and Best Actor at the Carrboro Film Festival in 2009 and 2010.