Focus Features kicked off Black History Month with a special RACE Atlanta Premiere at Atlantic Station on Monday. RACE star Stephan James introduced the film to three packed theaters of celebrities, influencers, dignitaries and students, encouraging everyone to be #LikeJesse. VIP guests included Rapper/Actor Ludacris, Actress/Director Kim Fields, Producer Will Packer, Pastor Corey Hambrick (Preachers of Atlanta), Pastor Raphael Warnock (Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church), DJ Infamous, Q. Parker (112) and Sharlinda Parker (Big Rich Atlanta), R&B singer Regina Belle, Ambassador Andrew Young, Lisa Arrindell (Madea’s Family Reunion), Producer Rueben Cannon, Rapper Big K.R.I.T., Chaka Zulu (Disturbing Tha Peace), Roberta Shields, Ariane Davis (VH1’s Love & Hip Hop Atlanta) Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall, Kathleen Bertrand (BronzeLens Film Festival), Neo-Soul Artist Anthony David, Comedienne Cocoa Brown (Tyler Perry’s For Better or Worse) and Jesse Usher and Erica Ash of Survivor’s Remorse.
Ludacris filled one theater with students from his charity, the Ludacris Foundation and members of the Douglas High School track and field team. Additional participating organization’s included the BronzeLens Film Festival, The Morehouse College Cinema, Television & Emerging Media Studies Program (CTEMS), Morehouse Filmmakers Association, The Apex Museum, KIPP Atlanta Collegiate, Hosea Helps, the National Urban League, Atlanta Technical College, Fund for Southern Communities, Hammonds House Museum, Spelman College and Clark Atlanta University.
RACE is based on the incredible true story of Jesse Owens, the legendary athletic superstar whose quest to become the greatest track and field athlete in history thrusts him onto the world stage of the 1936 Olympics, where he faces off against Adolf Hitler’s vision of Aryan supremacy. RACE is an enthralling film about courage, determination, tolerance, and friendship, and an inspiring drama about one man’s fight to become an Olympic legend.
RACE stars Stephan James, Jason Sudeikis, Jeremy Irons, Carice van Houten, Shanice Banton, and William Hurt. It is directed by Stephen Hopkins (“The Ghost and the Darkness,” “24”)
RACE premieres in theaters nationwide on Friday, February 19.