ImageNation and Society of Lincoln Center present the NYC Premiere of RiseUp, a cinematic journey into the heart of Jamaica where artists fight to rise up from obscurity and write themselves into music history. Directed by Luciano Blotta, RiseUp features reggae legends Lee “Scratch” Perry, Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, and many rising starts including Turbulence.

This special premiere opens with a live performance by Judah Tribe and ends with a director Q&A and discussion on reggae music and its global influence.

Thursday 25th at Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theater. Reception at 6pm, program at 7pm. For tickets go to http://www.imagenation.us/pages/main.htm

About the movie

Far from the tourist resorts, RiseUp travels to the heart of contemporary Jamaica and its flourishing underground music scene. On an island where opportunity is scarce, three aspiring artists – Turbulence (a charismatic lyrical master from the ghetto), Ice Anastasia (the wealthy “Vanilla Ice” from uptown Kingston), and Kemoy (a shy angelic songstress from the country) – seek to “rise up” into the legendary eminence of their iconic predecessors. Deep in the Kingston ghetto where reggae was born, reggae music continues to be a key forum of expression for ghetto youths, who still face crippling inequalities, poverty, and violence.

Run time: 88 min. | Jamaica, USA