Kevin Macdonald & Bob Marley

10th February 2011

Academy Award® and BAFTA® winning filmmaker Kevin Macdonald has boarded the Tuff Gong Pictures / Shangri-La Entertainment Bob Marley documentary MARLEY. Director of two of the most acclaimed documentaries of recent years, ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER and TOUCHING THE VOID, Macdonald will join with the Marley family, Chris Blackwell and Steve Bing to direct what will be the ultimate, authorized documentary film on the life, legacy and global impact of a true legend, one of the most influential singers, songwriters, musicians and activists in history. MARLEY marks the first time ever that his family has authorized the use of their own private Bob Marley archives.

The film will receive a world wide theatrical release in Q3 2011, during the 30^th anniversay year after his passing in 1981.

Tuff Gong Pictures and Shangri-La Entertainment are producing, in association with Cowboy Films, this definitive film about one of the true and most loved international icons of the 20th Century. His music and message of love and redemption are known throughout the world and his story will finally be brought to life by the acclaimed talent of Kevin Macdonald.

Bob Marley’s universal appeal, impact on music history and his role as a social and political prophet is both unique and unparalleled. His music and message transcend culture, language and creed and resonate around the world today as powerfully as when he was alive. Only a handful of musicians have ever achieved such an impact and Bob Marley, though his life was far too short, stands among them.

As one of the most accomplished documentary and feature filmmakers of a new generation Macdonald will deliver the definitive work on Bob Marley, his life and a truly global influence. Filming is taking place as far afield as Ghana, Japan and the UK, in addition to his beloved Jamaica and the States.

Macdonald said, “I was already intrigued by the Marley story but the way in which this film is developing, as we delve through the archive materials and interview key characters in his life, has surpassed my expectations. What made Bob tick is probably unanswerable but viewers will certainly feel that they know him a little better after seeing our documentary. I am grateful to the Marley family for entrusting me with their heritage.”

The film’s executive producers include Steve Bing, Chris Blackwell and Ziggy Marley, who added: “We went to Kevin initially as an acclaimed documentarian but what has been most important to the family is his obvious passion for and interest in my father’s life as a musician and person.”

The film is produced by Charles Steel of Cowboy Films and co-produced by Shangri-La Entertainment’s Zach Schwartz. Directors of Photography include Alwin Kuchler (ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER and SUNSHINE) and Mike Eley (TOUCHING THE VOID). The editor is Dan Glendenning.

Kevin Macdonald recently completed shooting his upcoming multi-million dollar Focus Features production THE EAGLEstarring Donald Sutherland, Channing Tatum and Jamie Bell which will hit US theatres in February. His hotly anticipated documentary LIFE IN A DAY is screening at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

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