“Harriet” Will Open Urbanworld Film Festival Next Week

The 23rd Annual Urbanworld Film Festival, along with founding partner HBO, has announced that “Harriet” will be open the festival on Wednesday, September 18th at 7:30 pm.

Tony-winning Broadway actor Cynthia Erivo stars in Kasi Lemmons‘ inspiring biopic about renowned abolitionist Harriet Tubman, who escaped slavery and risked her life to lead others to freedom through the network of safehouses known as the Underground Railroad. Erivo, Lemmons and producers Debra Martin Chase and Daniela Taplin Lundberg are confirmed to attend the festival and a conversation with them, moderated by CBS This Morning Saturday’s Michelle Miller, will immediately follow the screening.

The Urbanworld Film Festival slate will consist of 78 official selections and 7 spotlight selections represent inclusion in the broadest sense, highlighting content from around the globe by creators of color and women.  The annual showcase of diverse culture will take place in Manhattan, September 18-22, 2019 at AMC Empire 25 on 234 West 42nd Street.

“Each year we strive to expand our programming slate to expose stories, themes and characters that have been under-represented in our world.  This year is no exception,” said Gabrielle Glore, Festival Director & Head of Programming, Urbanworld Film Festival. “What is most exciting to see is the continued elevation of quality manifested across our content creators’ work, as we celebrate their creativity and craft.”

Passes and tickets for the festival are on sale now on urbanworld.org. Check out the trailer for Harriet below.