For immediate release:
COMMFFEST to screen The Toronto Rap Project documentary and feature Live Hip-Hop show.
(Toronto, September 18th, 2006)
On Thursday, September 28th @ 7pm the Gala event that kicks off COMMFFEST, The Community Film Festival takes place at St. Lawrence Market, on Front St. in Toronto. Headlined by singing sensation Liberty Silver – The Toronto Rap Project LIVE! will debut featuring rap artists from the documentary performing live with a DJ and break dance crew. Tickets are $25 each and available at the door.
Two nights later, The Toronto Rap Project documentary will screen as part of COMMFFEST on Saturday, September 30th @ 6pm at Rainbow Cinemas, on Front St. east in Toronto. To celebrate the release of the documentary soundtrack, everybody in attendance at this screening will get a free CD. “There hasn't been a soundtrack this hot since The Show.” reads a recent review in Urbanology magazine.
The Toronto Rap Project is a feature length documentary directed by Richard Budman. The documentary won a best documentary award and an audience award at this year’s Reelworld Film Festival. Part music video, part investigative journey, the documentary travels to diverse neighborhoods including Jane-Finch, Cataraqui Park in Scarborough, and ends up at the recent 50 Cent concert in Toronto.
When Liberal MP Dan McTeague tried to have 50 Cent barred from entering Canada for a series of concerts it set off a firestorm of debate. Was rap music somehow to blame for the increased gun violence Toronto had seen? A fan of urban music, director Richard Budman muses, “when the debate about gun violence started to point the finger of blame at rap music, I knew there had to be a better answer then that.”
The documentary features commentary and interviews from aspiring rappers and established music stars Kardinal Offishall and Wes “Maestro” Williams. Reverend Eugene Rivers, BBC documentary filmmaker Don Letts, journalists, politicians, and the everyday person on the streets of Toronto also weigh in on the debate.
John Bortolotti, owner of urban record label Disc Connected Records produced The Toronto Rap Project with Budman. “When I wanted to go into some of Toronto’s toughest hoods’ and interview rappers – I knew John had the network of contacts that could set it up." John also supervised the production of the soundtrack of Toronto based hip hop music inspired by the documentary.
Documentary trailers and clips can be seen on the www.RAPproject.com website. The Toronto Rap Project is produced by HoundsTV.com and Disc Connected Records. COMMFFEST Community Film Festival is a non-profit organization with the objective to engage in a dialogue of social issues and cultural exchange through the language of film.
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