Anne Hathaway & More Narrate GIRL RISING, Debuting on CNN Tonight

CNN Films' GIRL RISING, the groundbreaking film directed by Academy Award nominee Richard Robbins, will debut on CNN and CNN International tonight, June 16 at 9 pm ET.

The film is the centerpiece of 10x10 - a global action campaign to educate girls around the world - and documents the extraordinary stories of girls from across the globe fighting to overcome impossible odds to realize their dreams. "Girl Rising," which was called "beautifully shot, incredibly moving" by Glamour Magazine and "illuminating and ultimately hopeful" by the Los Angeles Times, opened in theaters nationally in March. In the film, each girl's story is told by celebrated writers from their country and narrated by Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Salma Hayek, Freida Pinto, Kerry Washington, Selena Gomez and Liam Neeson.

The film focuses on the power of education to change the lives of girls around the world. Girls face barriers in education that boys do not, but educating girls can break cycles of poverty in just one generation. "Girl Rising" highlights statistics that offer insight on those barriers, and illustrates the lasting impact of education on girls, families, communities and nations.

Leading up to the premiere, CNN Digital is offering special coverage of the film along with stories on the power of education at www.CNN.com/girlrising. In this special section, users can access op-eds, photos, original reporting and behind-the-scenes articles about the film online and via their mobile device. Beginning on June 16th, www.CNN.com/girlrising will stream additional chapters from the film with the story of two young girls from Cambodia and India narrated by Alicia Keys and Priyanka Chopra.

On the day of the premiere, users will find a "viewer's guide" on each of the girls in the film, as well as a live blog encouraging conversation. CNN Digital will publish open letters from influential women on the importance of education to empower girls around the world. CNN iReport, the network's global participatory COMMUNITY, will invite readers to write their own letters. CNN.com/girlrising will also highlight ways for the audience to take action and help girls' education in their own communities and around the world.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride

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