Richard Abramowitz's distribution company, Abramorama, announced a joint venture today with Social Capital Films as the companies together acquired the U.S. theatrical rights to Martin Shore's award-winning music documentary, TAKE ME TO THE RIVER. Celebrating the inter-generational and inter-racial musical influence of Memphis in the face of pervasive discrimination and segregation, TAKE ME TO THE RIVER is slated for a release on September 12, 2014.
TAKE ME TO THE RIVER premiered at the 2014 South by Southwest Film
Festival (SXSW) where it won the 24 Beats Per Second Audience Award. The film also screened at the 2014 Bonaroo Music and Arts
Festival to critical acclaim.
"TAKE ME TO THE RIVER is not just a movie, it's an experience for the soul," said Richard Abramowitz, President of Abramorama. "Bringing together musical talents from various generations creates a bridge of understanding between the young and old about where their musical history is rooted." Abramorama Distribution's music-centric film line up has included
Neil Young's GREENDALE and TRUNK SHOW (
Jonathan Demme), PEARL JAM TWENTY (Cameron Crow) and ANVIL: THE STORY OF ANVIL (Sasha Gervasi), among many others.
TAKE ME TO THE RIVER brings multiple generations of award-winning
Memphis and Mississippi Delta musicians together, following them through the creative process of recording a historic new album, to re-imagine the utopia of racial, gender and generational collaboration of
Memphis in its heyday. Narrated by
Terrence Howard the film features a soulful ensemble that includes William Bell,
Snoop Dogg,
Mavis Staples, Otis Clay, Lil P-Nut, Charlie Musselwhite, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Yo Gotti, Bobby Rush, Academy Award winner Frayser Boy and
The North Mississippi All-Stars and brings viewers inside creative collaborations to share the struggles, the joy, and inspiration of some of America's most talented master musicians, who have influenced and inspired the world's popular music.
This fall, Stax Records/Concord Music Group will release the TAKE ME TO THE RIVER companion album that includes tracks heard in the film, along with additional music from the film's featured artists.
"It's great to be working with such a dynamic company like Abramorama," said Filmmaker Martin Shore. "I hope it leaves a lasting impression and shows the heart and soul of the great city of
Memphis and of American music."
The acquisition deal was negotiated by Richard Abramowitz for Abramorama and ICM on behalf of the filmmakers. TAKE ME TO THE RIVER was created and produced by Martin Shore and Cody Dickinson; additional producers are Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell, Jerry Harrison, Dan Sameha, and Brett Leonard. The film was executive produced by
John Beug,
Snoop Dogg, Ted Chung, and
Terrence Howard.
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