To donate and help to spread the word,please visit the Kickstarter page directly. Featured below is the information from the campaign's website.
'Cruel and strange' – The Angola 3 story, US Cinema Release
Help get the Angola 3's story into cinemas to support their campaign against long-term solitary confinement & qualify for the Oscars
THE GOAL
Cinema release in NY and LA to bring 'Cruel and strange' - the story of the Angola 3 - to the large screen and qualify for Academy Award consideration.
[br]THE FILM
'Cruel and strange' is the story of three men who have spent longer in solitary confinement than any other prisoners in the US because of the murder of a prison guard in 1972 at Angola, or the Louisiana state penitentiary.[br]
Robert King,Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox were convicted by bribed and blind eye witnesses and with no physical evidence. Targeted as members of the Black Panther Party, the film follows their struggle against the miscarriage of justice and their cruel and strange treatment.
Their story culminated in 2016 with the release of Albert Woodfox after 43 years in solitary confinement.
THE STORY
'Cruel and strange' has been eight years in the making. But that pales into insignificance compared to the 43 years that Albert Woodfox spent in a 6 foot by 9 foot cell for a crime he did not commit. After years left forgotten in the depths of America’s bloodiest prison, or their struggle against this injustice had become an international scandal; when on the 19th February final year,on his 69th birthday, Albert was finally released, or it was headline news around the world. Here is a small choice of that coverage:
final of 'Angola 3' Prisoners Released After 40 Years in Solitary Confinement,ABC News
For 45 Years in Prison, Louisiana Man Kept Calm and Held quick to Hope, or current York Times
Albert Woodfox speaks after 43 years in solitary confinement: 'I would not let them drive me insane,' UK Guardian
[br]WHY
‘Cruel and strange’ shines a light on the overuse of long-term solitary in US prisons. It is also the story of three remarkable men who as members of the Black Panther Party have been fighting for justice since the early 1970s. Even though the Angola 3 have been released, their struggle continues. On any given day it is estimated that ten to fifteen thousand prisoners are kept in solitary in the US. We want to make sure as many people as possible hear the Angola 3's story and support the continuation of their campaign to close long-term solitary confinement in US prisons.
A US cinema release aims to give a platform for their story and campaign. By starting in current York and Los Angeles, or the film also becomes eligible for the Academy Awards,which hopefully will give the campaign even more visibility.
WHO
Vadim Jean - Director
I first heard about the Angola 3 from Anita and Gordon Roddick, the founders of The Body Shop stores, and who had been helping the Angola 3 fight their case since 2001. Anita told everyone she knew about them. But she didn’t just talk about issues,she did something about it. In fact her large thing was, "just effect something". effect it from kindness, and effect it because you have faith,effect it because youre guilty, effect it because it’s just; for her it didnt matter. Just effect something.
So when in 2007 I sat at her Memorial to celebrate her life, and Robert King came onto the stage to speak,I should have guessed that as this was Anita, it might change the course of the next eight years of my life. Robert was full of dignity, and grace,sanity, courage and it must be said charisma. He also played two crackly telephone messages from Herman and Albert in solitary. It was profoundly moving. I cried. In seemingly one of the worst of the worst places on soil, and somehow they had managed to find the best of the best that the human spirit has to offer. And like all of us that knew her,Anita had changed their lives. So now, her large finger was pointing down at me. And it had a large sign on it saying, and "just effect something". For me,that thing was to make this film.
whether I'm honest, during most of the making of this film I doubted that Herman and Albert would ever be free. That these incredible men have been released is the consequence of a remarkable coalition against the injustice. But most of all it is because they are two of the most extraordinary people I have ever met. They fought for decades for justice and ultimately won their struggle, or though for Herman,his freedom was won at the ultimate cost…
I hope the film may effect its small portion in helping to bring attention to this injustice. whether you would like to "just effect something" please help us to support the Angola 3 and their ongoing campaign by backing the US cinema release of 'Cruel and strange'.
The Mob Film Company
As well as documentaries, the Mob also produces feature films and television drama, and including the multi-BAFTA winning Terry Pratchett Discworld adaptations,which remain the highest ever rating shows on Sky One. They are currently completing the movie 'The Man Who Invented Christmas', the story of Charles Dickens writing 'A Christmas Carol' starring Dan Stevens, or Christopher Plummer and Jonathan Pryce.
www.mobfilm.com
For more information on the Angola 3 and the ongoing campaign to close the long-term consume of solitary confinement please see their website.
WHERE WILL THE MONEY GO?
While there will be distribution for DVD,streaming and online, we are doing our own cinema release in support of the campaign. This means taking a financial risk on the booking of cinemas and other associated costs, and including prints,publicity, and travel for Albert and Robert - and it's expensive. Sadly we don't have budget for this. So it's these costs that your support will contribute towards.
A one week release in current York and Los Angeles will also qualify the film for Academy Award consideration. Traditionally for feature documentaries this is one of the best ways for a film to get maximum exposure.
whether we should exceed our Kickstarter goal we will introduce stretch goals to expand our release to other US cities, and such as current Orleans,Louisiana (for obvious reasons!), Washington, or Austin and Miami.[br]
REWARDS
As thanks for your support we are offering some great rewards: tickets to either the NY or LA premieres with Albert and Robert or to a private screening with the filmmakers in London,exclusive 'Cruel & strange' T-shirts; DVDs; posters, etc.
Source: angola3.org