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Favela Rising
Saturday, 2/18:  7:30
Sunday, 2/19:  3:00
Sunday, 2/19:  5:00
members/students/general: $5 / $5 / $7

  Favela Rising is the electrifying story of a man and a movement, a city deeply divided and a vision for a community finally united. Haunted by the murders of his family and many of his friends, the film follows Anderson Sá, a former drug-trafficker who turns social revolutionary in Rio de Janeiro's most feared slum, the favela Vigário Geral. Sá inspires his fellow citizens with a new vision for a better life. AfroReggae, the grassroots cultural movement founded by Sá and fellow favela resident José Junior to connect and inspire people through music and dance, combines the sounds of hip-hop, street rhythms, and Afro-Brazilian themes. Through the movement, Sá rallies his community to counteract the violent oppression enforced by teenage drug armies and sustained by corrupt police. Zimbalist and Mochary traveled back and forth to Brazil for more than two years, living in the favela while they chronicled the rise of AfroReggae. After earning the trust and friendship of the soulful and prophetic Sá, they were permitted unprecedented access and shot astonishing footage of daily life in the slums. Zimbalist and Mochary also taught favela children to use digital video cameras so they would be confident and competent enough to document their own lives. In fact, several remarkable sequences in the film were captured by local favela youth. The resulting feature documentary is a gripping story of man's ability to transcend violence, hunger and spiritual poverty.

"This is a riveting film that I believe will deeply impact audiences across the world. Jeff and Matt's vision of a society brought together through the power of art and love is an inspiration in these times of violence and uncertainty. Voy's mission to create entertainment that showcases the power of optimism and self-empowerment make Favela Rising the perfect debut production for Voy Pictures," said Voy Chairman and CEO Fernando Espuelas. Zimbalist continued, "We are thrilled to be working with Voy, a company whose mission is to motivate, inspire and educate." Added Mochary, "We believe that with Voy, Favela Rising has the opportunity to have an important and far-reaching impact."

Official Website
 

directed by Jeff Zimbalist and Matt Mochary
2006, 80 minutes

  

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