The
New York Knicks power forward Amar’e Stoudemire has come on board as executive producer for the
new documentary The Village of Peace.

The film, which was produced and directed by Ben Schuder and Niko Philipdies, with executive producers Jack Madigan and Aaron
McCreary, chronicles the African
Hebrew Israelites, a community who
migrated from Chicago to Israel in the late 1960s, and intertwines
the story of four villagers to provide an in-depth and moving view into the
community.

According to Schuder, Stoudemire was first made aware of the
film through Twitter, when he sent him a trailer; and the Knicks star was so
taken by the story that he arranged to meet Ben and his producer brother Sam, after seeing several rough cuts of
the film and providing input.

The African Hebrew Israelites first began their migration
to Israel from Chicago in 1967, and, in
the film, the founders of the Village recount their epic journey from the
backdrop of oppression and upheaval in Chicago, through Liberia, to what they now call home, in the Negev Desert.

Originally some 300
people made the migration to Israel, and now more than 5,000 African Israelites live there.
The stories of four villagers are woven together to portray a community inspired by ancient scripture, determined to
live life in its purest form. Their unique culture “evolves from an uncommon
interpretation of the Torah mandating a life practice that includes polygamy,
natural birth, veganism and a rigorous emphasis on health.”

The film will make its world premiere tonight at
the Santa Barbara International Film Festival before continuing to
other film festivals, and, eventually, a TV or cable broadcast premiere.

Here’s the trailer for the film (And yes you got me. I
confess that I had to look up who Stoudemire is. What can I say? I don’t watch
sports):