Tribeca Enterprise’s Chief Content Officer, Paula Weinstein, presented an extended sneak peek of the upcoming documentary Following Harry at the Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award event. The documentary features the late singer, actor, and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte. The four-minute clip takes viewers through Belafonte’s thoughts on keeping the movement for social justice alive. He also ponders whether his tireless efforts from the 1950s onward have managed to change America at all. Belafonte died in April at the age of 96.
The clip was unveiled as Tribeca hosted its annual Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award event. Jane Fonda received the award from Grammy winner and activist Alicia Keys. The ceremony was capped by the footage from Susanne Rostock’s documentary. Rostock had previously worked with Belafonte on the documentary Sing My Song. Following Harry is currently in post-production.
Over the last 12 years of his life, Harry Belafonte collaborated with director Susanne Rostock to create a documentary that tells the story of his thoughtful and deliberate mission to transition his knowledge gained through experience to inspire as many artists, activists, and young leaders as possible. Following Harry shares the lived experience of Harry Belafonte in the most public of places and the most intimate confines of his private life.
Belafonte’s Life’s Work Explored
The film unfolds like a poem, allowing audiences to experience the effect that the social justice icon has purposefully, and unintentionally, created. From Ferguson to Fruitland Park, and Ossining to Ghana, even in Harry’s kitchen in New York City, the life’s work of this cultural and civil rights icon is explored. The film is directed by Susanne Rostock and produced by Frankie Nasso, Susanne Rostock, and Julius R. Nasso. Executive Producers are Harry Belafonte, Pamela Belafonte, Jeff Kranzdorf, and Edward Zeng. The director of photography is Martina Radwan.
Belafonte’s dedication to racial equality and his courageous work alongside the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. were widely acknowledged upon his passing. However, in the clip featured in Following Harry, Belafonte expresses doubts about the success of his efforts. He wonders whether his time was wasted, as footage is seen of protests over police killings of unarmed Black people. He questions how the country ended up with this result and why in all the things that could be, it turned out to be this.
“These are difficult times to love. We’re afraid of each other. We’re afraid to reach out. We’re afraid to embrace our diversity. We’ve got to overcome this fear and move on to life,” Belafonte added in the clip.
The prologue to Following Harry has received a positive response from the Tribeca audience. They were moved by the viewing and the realization that the final chapter of Harry Belafonte’s life has been captured in such an authentic and powerful form.
Following Harry promises to offer insight into the life of a cultural and civil rights icon, and the effect that he has had on society. The documentary is expected to inspire a new generation of artists, activists, and young leaders.
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