U.S. Theaters From Regal To Indies Will Play 2014 Ukrainian Film ‘The Guide’ Starting Friday With Proceeds Going To Relief Effort

deadline.com:

A group of theater owners from giant Regal to independent cinemas have signed on to screen Ukrainian director Oles Sanin’s 2014 feature film The Guide starting Friday with proceeds going to relief efforts for the war ravaged country.The expanding list of national and regional chains that have agreed to show the film include Regal, National Amusements, Harkins, Landmark, Laemmele, Cinepolis, Malco Theatrers, the Angelika Group, B&B Theatres, Santikos Theatres, Cinemex, Xscape Theatres, Premiere Cinemas, Imagine of Canada, Celebration, Bow Tie Cinemas, Milgram Theatres and Mini Theatres.

It’s not clear at how many locations. About 100 independent cinemas have also committed. Organizers say that puts the number of participating theaters in the unspecified “hundreds” so far.Sanin is currently locked down in Kyiv but provided a introduction, now attached, conveying the urgent need for assistance as Russian attacks intensify.The Guide (Ukraine’s entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 87th Academy Awards) is set in the 1930s as the Soviet regime pursues agricultural and other repressive policies causing the death of millions of Ukrainians. (See trailer below.)The Digital Cinema Distribution Coalition will be delivering the film by satellite, PaperAirplane Media will provide marketing assets and support materials.

Distribution is being handled by Falling Forward Films. All parties are working free of charge.Donations from cinemas will be forwarded to a special Ukraine Relief Fund being managed by Human & Civil Rights Organizations of America.

President of the board and longtime activist Marshall Strauss also happens to own a movie theater in suburban Boston that was the first to run the film last weekend.Now, he said,