SYNOPSIS
Selma. SELMA, the story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic struggle to secure voting rights for African-Americans, will open in UK cinemas on 6th February next year. 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of this pivotal moment in the US Civil Rights Movement and this triumphant story of the power of the people.
SELMA stars British actor David Oyelowo (Middle of Nowhere, The Butler, A Most Violent Year) as Martin Luther King Jr. and is directed by Ava DuVernay (Middle of Nowhere).
The supporting cast of SELMA features a stellar British line-up, including Tom Wilkinson (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Michael Clayton) as President Lyndon B. Johnson, Tim Roth (Arbitrage, The Incredible Hulk) as Governor George Wallace and Carmen Ejogo (Alex Cross, Ride And Glory) as Coretta King; alongside Oprah Winfrey as Annie Lee Cooper.
The film tracks a dangerous and terrifying three month campaign led by Martin Luther King Jr. which culminated in the epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. The campaign galvanized American public opinion and persuaded President Johnson to introduce the Voting Rights Act, protecting Africa-Americans’ right to vote.
British screenwriter Paul Webb (Four Nights in Knaresborough) penned the screenplay for SELMA. The film is produced by Oprah Winfrey (The Hundred-Foot Journey, Beloved) through Harpo Films; British producer Christian Colson through Cloud Eight Films (127 Hours, Slumdog Millionaire); and Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner for Brad Pitt’s company Plan B (12 Years A Slave). Ava DuVernay, Paul Garnes, Cameron McCracken (for Pathé UK) and Nan Morales are executive producers. The behind-the-scenes creative team includes cinematographer Bradford Young (Mother of George, Middle of Nowhere), production designer Mark Friedberg (Noah, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Mildred Pierce), and costume designer Ruth E. Carter (Amistad, Malcolm X).
The film was shot in Atlanta, Georgia, and in Montgomery and Selma, Alabama.
