Toronto Urban Music Festival 2009


URBAN MUSIC WEEK Urban Film Series sponsored by Fusicology Friday, February 25, 2011 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Saturday, February 26, 2011 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sunday, February 27, 2011 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

All screenings will take place at: National Film Board Cinema, 150 John St. @ Richmond St. W. The screenings for Urban Music Week 2011 include:

Sunday, February 27- 1:30p.m.
Africa Unite: A Celebration of Bob Marley's 60th Birthday
(Dir. Stephanie Black, USA, 92 min)

AFRICA UNITE is a singular and masterfully executed film by Stephanie Black that is at once concert tribute, Marley family travelogue, and humanitarian documentary, igniting the screen with the spirit of world-renowned reggae icon BOB MARLEY in its every frame. In commemoration of Bob's 60s 60th birthday, Africa Unite is centered on the Marley's fir first-time-ever family trip to Ethiopia in 2005. Includes rare footage of the legendary reggae icon Bob Marley.
There in the capital city of Addis Ababa, three generations of Marleys take part in a 12-hour concert attended by more than 300,000 people from around the world, with the ultimate purpose of inspiring young generations of Africans to unite for the future of their continent.

Features exuberant on-stage spots as well as a soundtrack brimming with Bob Marley studio classics. Includes appearances by UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador/actor Danny Glover, world music sensation and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Angelique Kidjo, Bob Marley's mos mother, Mrs. Booker, and Princess Mary, granddaughter of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I. Produced and directed by Stephanie Black (Life & Debt, H-2 Worker), and Executive Produced by Rita Marley, Cedella Marley, Danny Glover and Joslyn Barnes.

Sunday, February 27 - 3:30p.m.
Coming Back for More
(Dwars Producties/NPS Television, 74 min.)

Sly Stone is one of the great musical innovators of the last 50 years. With his band the Family Stone he was one of the highlights of the Woodstock Festival. Sly survived his drug addiction but disappeared in the early 80’s from the limelight and became untraceable for years. Filmmakers, musicians (Prince) and friends tried to contact him, without success. TV stations had offered thousands of dollars in the hope of an interview, but Sly was not to be tempted. In 2002, director/musician Willem Alkema started searching for Sly Stone. Two years later, he found Sly living in a house at the end of a dead end street on a hill just outside Los Angeles. Sly Stone didn't want to be found or filmed but Willem didn't give up and in 2007 finally followed Sly in his first steps on stage since the seventies. At that moment Sly didn't want to be interviewed and disappeared. Finally, in June 2009 Sly gave his first filmed interview in more then 20 years. http://www.slystonedocumentary.com

Admissions (all films): $8 per screening, $12 for a one-day pass. Tickets are available at the door.