Mastered in HD from the 35mm preservation negative, the 3-hour, landmark, Academy Award nominated film for Best Documentary (1970), King: A Filmed Record…Montgomery to Memphis, was released on DVD, on January 15, courtesy of Kino Classics.

And now Kino Lorber is launching a national theatrical campaign for the film, partnering with Maysles Cinema to present the film on Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 4pm, at the Church of the Intercession, located at 550 W 155th St. in New York City.

There is a suggested $10 admission.

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion at 7:15pm featuring Harry Belafonte, DJ Spooky, and Richard Kaplan.

And in addition to the New York screening, Kino Lorber is offering individuals and organizations across the country the opportunity to bring the film to their local theater, all in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and MLK's I Have a Dream speech.

Vitals from the press release:

– Constructed from a wealth of archival footage, King: A Filmed Record…Montgomery to Memphis is a monumental documentary that follows Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from 1955 to 1968, in his rise from regional activist to world-renowned leader of the Civil Rights movement. Produced for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Foundation by Ely Landau, King is an epic document of the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr., from the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott to his assassination in 1968. Rare footage of King's speeches, protests, and arrests are interspersed with scenes of other high-profile supporters and opponents of the cause, punctuated by heartfelt testimonials by some of Hollywood's biggest stars. 

– There is no voice-over narration; instead, the film uses contemporary film/newsreel and video/television footage to brilliantly convey the boiling indignation of an oppressed people and their revolutionary organizing. Juxtaposed over this footage are dramatic readings by actors Harry Belafonte, Ruby Dee, Ben Gazzara, Charlton Heston, James Earl Jones, Burt Lancaster, Paul Newman, Anthony Quinn, Clarence Williams III and Joanne Woodward. These sections were co-directed by Sidney Lumet and Joseph L. Mankiewicz.

– The 3-hour film comes in a 2-disc set in a version newly restored by the Library of Congress, in association with Richard Kaplan, and utilizing film elements provided by the Museum of Modern Art. 

– The film premiered as a special "one-time-only event" on March 24, 1970 in over 600 theaters throughout the USA.

– Its release raised over three million dollars for the benefit of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Special Fund.

– A shorter version of the film was subsequently made available to TV stations across the world, but the original, unedited, three-hour version of the film, has rarely been shown in recent years.

– It was admitted to the National Film Registry in 1999.

Again, it was released on January 15, on DVD, so you can purchase it HERE. 

And for more information about the campaign to bring the film to a theater near you, visit: http://alivemindcinema.com/king.