Youth Can See Selma for Free This Weekend at Pearl Theatre

Paramount Pictures

There are several campaigns aimed at getting youth across the nation out to see Selma, Ava DuVernay’s film that chronicles Martin Luther King Jr.’s efforts to organize a march from Selma to Montgomery in order to secure civil rights for African Americans in 1965.

The largest is #StudentsForSelma, a movement underwritten by African American business leaders across the nation that raised $44,000 to provide free tickets to students in the 7th, 8th and 9th grades. All they have to do is show up to the box office with a student I.D. or report card to take advantage of the deal. According to a release sent out from the Mayor’s office this morning, local funders included Henri G. Moore, Les Brun, Charisse Lillie, Harold Epps, Shelley Stewart and Lydia G. Mallett. And their generosity seems to have paid off. Philadelphia tickets sold out almost instantly. In fact it’s the only city after New York to have done so.

Luckily that’s not the only way to see the film for free. The City of Philadelphia has partnered with Citizens Bank to host a free day of screenings at Pearl Theatre on Saturday, January 17th, for youth ages 13 to 21. So far the 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. (the one the Mayor will attend) have been sold out, but at press time there were still seats available at the 7 p.m. showing. For details and to sign up, email mbkphilly@phila.gov by 7 p.m. this evening.

Extra Reading: 8 Ways to Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Philadelphia