Frameline's Tongues Untied DVD is Released Today

Frameline's Tongues Untied DVD is Released Today

SAN FRANCISCO, March 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Nationwide screenings celebrate today's DVD release of Tongues Untied, Marlon T. Riggs's controversial classic documentary chronicling the black gay male experience. Frameline (http://www.frameline.org/), one of the world's premiere organizations supporting LGBT films and filmmakers, is teaming up with organizations in major cities across the country to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the film's production and to announce to audiences the first-ever release of Tongues Untied on DVD.

Upcoming screenings are March 26 in Washington, DC, and April 1 in Chicago. The screenings started with a late-February date in New York City and a March 14 screening at San Francisco's Museum of the African Diaspora. Marlon T. Riggs's surviving partner Jack Vincent was on hand for the San Francisco screening, in addition to special guests including cast members Alan Miller, Brian Freeman, Alex Langford, and Britt Tennell.

"We're thrilled to partner with so many film festivals and community groups across the country who are invested in Tongues Untied," said Michael Lumpkin, Frameline's Artistic Director. "These collaborations are a testimony to the impact Tongues Untied has had on communities around the country over the past 20 years. We see the DVD release of the film as an opportunity for new audiences to personally connect with the film, both as a powerful work of art and as the definitive expression of the gay black male experience."

Marlon Riggs's portrayal of homophobia and racism caused controversy during Tongues Untied's original 1991 airing on PBS's P.O.V. series and contributed to the national debate about the National Endowment for the Arts funding for art with gay themes, nudity, and pointed political commentary. The remastered DVD includes an archival interview with director Marlon Riggs, and newly produced interviews with Isaac Julien, Phill Wilson, Juba Kalamka, and Herman Gray, as well as never-before-released deleted scenes.

This Tongues Untied screening series and the subsequent DVD release are the latest in a series of national successes for Frameline. Freeheld, which was completed with assistance from Frameline's Completion Fund Program, won the 2008 Academy Award for "Best Documentary Short Subject." Earlier this month, AT&T announced a $70,000 contribution to Frameline as the Grand Sponsor of the Frameline32 International LGBT Film Festival, taking place in June 2008.

Media Contacts:
David Perry & Associates, Inc. / David Perry (415) 693-0583 /
news@davidperry.com
Frameline / Trista Kendall (415) 703-8650 x316 / tkendall@frameline.org

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Frameline

CONTACT: David Perry of David Perry & Associates, Inc., +1-415-693-0583,
news@davidperry.com, for Frameline; or Trista Kendall of Frameline,
+1-415-703-8650, x316, tkendall@frameline.org

Web site:

http://www.frameline.org/

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