With the theatrical release of Roadside Attractions‘ child trafficking drama City of Dreams coming up, the filmmakers will be giving away $1 million in free tickets for a series of sneak previews beginning Wednesday, August 28, the studio announced today.
It’s expected that the giveaway will result in more than 50,000 moviegoers coming out. The hope is to bring out trafficking survivors and individuals from anti-trafficking organizations, as well as schools, churches, municipalities, and people who might not otherwise be able to afford a screening. Complimentary advance preview passes are available at the link.
In the top 25 markets nationwide, iHeart Media will provide live coverage, with on-air talent on site to help bring added awareness to the issue of child trafficking. The ticket giveaway was made possible through a donation from John Devaney, founder of United Capital and Manor House Films.
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Inspired by a landmark sweatshop case in El Monte, CA, City of Dreams chronicles the journey of a Mexican boy (newcomer Ari Lopez) whose dreams of becoming a soccer star are shattered when he’s smuggled across the border and sold to a sweatshop in downtown Los Angeles. Pic marks the feature debut of veteran producer Mohit Ramchandani, who directed from his own script.
In a statement accompanying news of the ticket giveaway, Devaney said that “Mo has done a brilliant job through this powerful and unforgettable film by focusing on this issue and telling this story, inspired by true events. Few topics deserve a more urgent spotlight and my family, and I are privileged that we can help raise awareness by providing the opportunity to help protect and save innocent children from slavery. We know America will be as moved as our growing list of Ambassadors and influencers who have signed on to pledge their support to the film.”
In the lead-up to City of Dreams‘ release, numerous celebrities of different stripes have gotten involved to help promote the film and its mission to end child trafficking. The list includes actors Mira Sorvino, Sylvester Stallone, Martin Sheen, Anthony Ramos, Frank Grillo, Thomas Jane, Katheryn Winnick, Marisol Nichols and Carlos Ponce; producer and studio executive Peter Guber; talk show host Kathie Lee Gifford; iHeart Latino president Enrique Santos; the Miami Heat’s Pat Riley; musician Prince Royce; journalists Pamela Silva, María Celeste and María Elena Salinas; model Karolina Kurkova; and more.
Also starring Alfredo Castro, Paulina Gaitan, Golden Globe nominee Diego Calva and Renata Vaca, the film hits theaters August 30.
Ramchandani produced alongside Matthew Diezel, Jon Graham, Rufus Parker and Sean Wolfington. Devaney, Azad Shivdasani, Tony Robbins, Luis Fonsi, Yalitza Aparicio, Sorvino, Vivek Ramaswamy, Colleen Camp, Luis Mandoki, Linda Perry and Michael Phillips served as EPs.