It was announced today that the feature film Machine Gun Preacher, originally released in late 2011, will be headlining the Uptown Film Festival, taking place March 8-10. Gerard Butler stars in the film, and it tells the true-life tale of Sam Childers, a former criminal who did a complete 180 and helped orphaned and kidnapped children in Sudan. You can buy tickets to the film at uptownpalladium.com starting February 20th, and a portion of the ticket profits will be donated to Gleaners and Defeat the Label, a nonprofit.
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Birmingham, Mich., February 8, 2012- The Uptown Film Festival (UFF) -- to be held March 8-10, 2012 at the Palladium in Birmingham, MI -- is pleased to announce Machine Gun Preacher as the feature film of its annual charity gala Friday, March 9 at 7 p.m. A percentage of ticket sale proceeds will be donated to Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan (Gleaners) and “Defeat the Label,” a national anti-bullying non-profit.
“We’re excited to show Machine Gun Preacher as a feature film in our festival benefitting these phenomenal charities”, commented Kirk Miller, co-executive director of UFF. The film opened with a limited release back in September and was an official selection of the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. “We’re honored to be able to give local film-goers and supporters of Michigan-made films an exclusive opportunity to see this film on the big screen, as it has not yet been released on DVD.”
Machine Gun Preacher stars Gerald Butler (300) and tells the inspirational true story of Sam Childers, a former drug-dealer and criminal who is transformed as he discovers his unexpected calling as the savior of hundreds of kidnapped and orphaned children in the war-torn Sudan.
Tickets will be available for purchase at www.uptownpalladium.com on February 20, 2012..
The Festival’s board of directors chose Gleaners as a beneficiary for the second consecutive year based upon the organization’s leadership and service to the hungry of metro Detroit. Hunger and poverty continue to affect thousands in the region, and Gleaners is the principal organization that many individuals and families rely upon to survive during difficult economic times.
“Gleaners is honored to be selected once again as a beneficiary of the Uptown Film Festival,” said Gleaners President W. DeWayne Wells. “We’re thrilled that this event, which recognizes local film talent, is also helping to raise awareness and funds for our hungry neighbors. Every dollar raised will provide three meals, so the UFF’s support will have a direct, positive impact on our mission.”
UFF also chose “Defeat the Label” as a 2012 beneficiary to support the organization’s powerful anti-bullying message. Jeff Sakwa, president of the Michigan chapter of Defeat the Label commented on the announcement:
“Defeat the Label is honored and excited to be a part of the Uptown Film Festival. We believe that this is a fun, family-oriented way to bring attention to this widespread epidemic, which has no geographic or socioeconomic boundaries. Many actors and people in the film industry have been and still are victims of bullying. We hope the Uptown Film Festival’s support will bring more attention to our organization, which help thousands in need on daily basis through its 24-hour help-line and vast network of resources."
Jeffrey Spilman, co-executive director of the Uptown Film Festival concurred. “Film is an art form that often examines issues of social importance, and, in some cases, instills the necessary outrage for society to change. Machine Gun Preacher, in addition to many of the film submissions that will be shown and nominated for awards, is demonstrative of this artistic scrutiny. By donating proceeds to Gleaners and Defeat the Label, we hope to raise awareness about the ramifications of hunger and bullying within our community, and, at the same time, reinforce the important role that Michigan films and filmmakers play in bringing about that change.”
The Uptown Film Festival is expected to draw approximately 5,000 attendees for screenings and an awards competition that will feature celebrity honorees and a wide variety of acclaimed Michigan filmmakers and films. In its inaugural year in 2011, the UFF drew a crowd more than 3,500.
ABOUT THE UPTOWN FILM FESTIVAL
Established in Birmingham, Michigan in 2011, the Uptown Film Festival (UFF) is a celebration of the Michigan film industry and, in particular, productions created entirely, or in part, within the state. It was established by leaders in the Michigan film industry and will be held annually to recognize the industry and individuals’ accomplishments within the state. Since the Michigan Film Incentives were adopted in 2008, over 7,000 production jobs have been created in addition to the 4,000 acting jobs for extras and day players. The film industry is one of the fastest growing sectors of Michigan’s economy. For more information on the UFF, please visit www.uptownfilmfestival.com.
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