The Baltimore Ravens and the Maryland Film Festival are proud to announce the United States premiere of "The Band That Wouldn't Die," which will play Tuesday, Oct. 6, on the SMARTVISION boards at M&T Bank Stadium.
"It's the perfect Maryland Film Festival event – fun and informal," Maryland Film Festival director Jed Dietz stated. "And, it features the most recent work of one of the greatest living filmmakers, Barry Levinson."
Levinson, the film's creator and host of the event, is an Academy Award-winning director and Baltimore native. "I am thrilled to share this at M&T Stadium with the great Baltimore fans and our wonderful marching band," he said of the film, which recently debuted with much acclaim at the Toronto Film Festival. "All of us who worked on the film focused on capturing that very special Baltimore spirit that has always fascinated me and will certainly be present at this event."
The film depicts the story of a group of ordinary citizens, volunteers in the Baltimore Colts' Marching Band, who kept the spirit of professional football alive in Baltimore after the franchise moved to Indianapolis in 1984. Perhaps even more extraordinary, when owner Art Modell created the Baltimore Ravens franchise in 1996, the Modell family fully embraced the city's great football tradition. To this day, under new owner Steve Bisciotti, the team and M&T Bank finance the renewed Baltimore's Marching Ravens.
"We have always been grateful that the Ravens' ownership and management understand our passion and have made it possible for us to support our team," said longtime band director John Ziemann. "To have Barry Levinson chose to make this film – a great filmmaker and a fellow fan – is a dream come true. The fact that he is taking the time to host this premiere in person is beyond wonderful."
The premiere will open with a small performance from Baltimore's Marching Ravens. Additionally, fans can watch the 53-minute film when it is scheduled to air on ESPN as part of the network's "30 for 30" documentary project on Oct. 13.
To purchase premiere tickets ($5), fans can visit www.BaltimoreRavens.com/MarchingRavens or call 410-261-RAVE (7283).
Details for the premiere are as follows:
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 6
Time: 6-8:30 p.m. (Gate A opens at 6 p.m.)
Location: M&T Bank Stadium
Parking: Free in Lot B/C
Price: $5 per ticket
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(There will be open seating on the field. Please note that no chairs or food will be allowed. However, blankets and pillows are welcomed.)
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For more info about the film, please visit:http://www.espnmediazone.com/presskits/ESPNFilms/index.htm
CONTACTS:
Jed Dietz
Maryland Film Festival
(410) 752-8083 (410) 752-8083 (work)
(410) 456-2232 (410) 456-2232 (cell)
John Ziemann
Band President
Baltimore's Marching Ravens
(410) 491-3778 (410) 491-3778 (cell)
Heather Blocher
Advertising & Marketing Coordinator
Baltimore Ravens
(410) 701-4098 (410) 701-4098 (work)
