Long Lost African American Masterpiece Killer of Sheep Has First-Ever Theatrical Release on its 30th Anniversary
Charles Burnett Debut Film to Premiere at IFC Center in New York City, March 30, 2007 and Nuart Theatre in Los Angeles, April 6, 2007 Followed by Playdates Across the US and Canada
Charles Burnett
Charles Burnett's KILLER OF SHEEP starring Henry Sanders, Kaycee Moore and Angela Burnett opening in film theaters this spring. Courtesy of Milestone Films.
Harrington Park, NJ (BlackNews.com) - KILLER OF SHEEP (www.killerofsheep.com), a landmark feature film shot in South Central LA by director Charles Burnett (To Sleep with Anger, The Glass Shield), has long been praised as one of the most moving and authentic depictions of African American life. Declaring it a national treasure, the Library of Congress placed it among the first 50 films entered in the National Film Registry and the National Society of Film Critics selected KILLER OF SHEEP as one of the 100 Essential Films of all time. But for the past 30 years it has only shown on poor quality 16mm prints at a handful of colleges around the United States and in scattered European film festivals. It is now ready to premiere this spring and summer around the country in glistening new 35mm prints.
"Killer of Sheep represents the highest example of contemporary black American life put on screen." -- Armond White, Film Comment
Despite its critical success, KILLER OF SHEEP never saw theatrical distribution due to complications with the music rights for the great songs featured in the film's soundtrack including tracks by Paul Robeson, Dinah Washington and Earth, Wind and Fire. Now, with those rights resolved, Milestone Films and Steven Soderbergh are presenting Charles Burnett's legendary debut feature film brilliantly restored by UCLA Film & Television Archive. In its outreach efforts, Milestone is working with media publicity firm Murphy PR and with ImageNation -- a Harlem-based organization that promotes media equity, solidarity and cross-cultural exchange throughout communities of color -- in hopes of reaching audiences in every community.
"Killer of Sheep is a flat-out treasure, impervious to time."
-- Jay Carr, Boston Globe
KILLER OF SHEEP examines the black Los Angeles community of Watts in the mid-1970s through the eyes of Stan, a sensitive dreamer who is growing detached from the psychic toll of working at a slaughterhouse. Frustrated by money problems, he finds respite in moments of simple beauty: the warmth of a teacup against his cheek, slow dancing with his wife, holding his daughter. The film offers no solutions; it merely presents life -- sometimes exhaustingly difficult, sometimes filled with transcendent joy and gentle humor.
"Killer of Sheep is one of the most striking debuts in movie history and an acknowledged landmark in African-American film."
-- Terrence Rafferty, GQ
Initial Playdates for KILLER OF SHEEP:
3/30-4/12/07 IFC Center, New York, NY
3/30-4/5/07 Jacob Burns Film Center, Pleasantville, NY
4/6-12/07 Nuart Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
4/12-15/07 Wisconsin Film Festival, Madison, WI
4/15/07 James River Film Festival, Richmond, VA
4/19-28/07 Atlanta Film Festival, Atlanta, GA
4/20-27/07 Mary Riepma Ross Film Theater, Lincoln, NE
4/20-26/07 Starz Center, Denver, CO
4/27/07 Athens Film Festival, OH
5/10/07 Art Museum of South Texas, Corpus Christi, TX
5/18-24/07 Castro Theatre, San Francisco, CA
5/18-24/07 Smith Rafael Film Center, San Rafael, CA
5/21-23/07 Alamo Drafthouse, Austin, TX
6/1-7/07 Angelika Film Center, Dallas, TX
6/1-7/07 E Street Cinema, Washington, DC
6/1-7/07 Nickelodeon Cinema, Santa Cruz, CA
6/8-17/07 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
6/15-23/07 Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX
6/22-28/07 Melwood Screening Room, Pittsburgh, PA
6/22-28/07 Northwest Film Forum, Seattle, WA
6/23-28/07 Cinematheque Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada
7/1-5/07 Brooklyn Academy of Music Afro-Punk Festival, NY
If you are a critic or writer who would like to attend a press screening of KILLER OF SHEEP, review the film on DVD, or get more information about the film's upcoming release, please contact Dennis Doros at Milestone Film, 800-603-1104 or milefilms@aol.com.
CONTACT:
Dennis Doros
Milestone Film
800-603-1104
milefilms@aol.com
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