New Fela Film, 'Finding Fela' Receives Rave Reviews

Riding on the wheels of the rave reviews it has received from 'The Times,' 'The Guardian,' 'NME,' 'Mojo,' 'IndieWire,' 'The Hollywood Reporter' and a host of others, a new film that tells the story of Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s life, his music, his social and political importance has been scheduled for screening at several cinemas and screens across the U.K and Ireland from 2014 through 2015.

The fact that this film stars the likes of Fela Kuti, Yeni Kuti, Femi Kuti, Seun Kuti, Tony Allen, Ahmir-Khalib Thompson, Sir Paul McCartney has pulled an impressive level of weight.

'Finding Fela' was directed by the Academy Award winning director, Alex Gibney. Gibney is known for his gripping, deeply insightful documentaries, is one of the most accomplished non-fiction filmmakers working today. His 2008 film, Taxi to the Dark Side, received an Oscar for Best Feature-Length Documentary.

Finding Fela

Finding Fela tells the story of Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s life, his music, his social and political importance. He created a new musical movement, Afrobeat, using that forum to express his revolutionary political opinions against the dictatorial Nigerian government of the 1970s and 1980s. His influence helped bring a change towards democracy in Nigeria and promoted Pan Africanist politics to the world. The power and potency of Fela’s message is completely current today and is expressed in the political movements of oppressed people, embracing Fela’s music and message in their struggle for freedom. Finding Fela was directed by the Academy Award winning director, Alex Gibney.

Director Alex Gibney

Alex Gibney

Academy Award winner Alex Gibney, known for his gripping, deeply insightful documentaries, is one of the most accomplished non-fiction filmmakers working today. His 2008 film, Taxi to the Dark Side, received an Oscar for Best Feature-Length Documentary. Alex received another Academy Award nomination in 2006 for Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room.

Credits

• DIRECTOR
  Alex Gibney
• PRODUCER
  Jack Gulick
• PRODUCER
  Alex Gibney
• EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
  Ruth Hendel
• EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
  Stephen Hendel
• CO-PRODUCER
  Alison Ellwood
• DOP
  Maryse Alberti
• EDITOR
  Lindy Jankura
• COMPOSER
  Fela Anikulapo-Kuti
• MIXER
  Tony Volante
• POST SUPERVISION
  James Salkind
• RESEARCHER
  Shari Chetok
• PRODUCTION COMPANY
  Jigsaw Productions, in association with Knitting Factory Entertainment, okayplayer, okayafrica