Watch CBS News

Paramount, Black Business Leaders Team Up To Give Free 'Selma' Tickets To NYC Students

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Some New York City students will be able to watch the new civil rights film "Selma" for free thanks to a partnership between Paramount Pictures and African-American business leaders.

Seventh-, eighth- and ninth-grade students who present a student ID or report card at participating theaters will receive free tickets. The screenings will begin at 7 p.m. today and run through Jan. 19 --Martin Luther King Jr. Day -- or while supplies last. Anyone wishing to reserve 25 or more student tickets should visit SelmaMovie.com/nyc.

The 27 business leaders -- including American Express CEO Ken Chenault and Xerox chief Ursula Burns -- contributed to a fund to pay for the tickets.

"Selma" tells the story of the campaign led by Martin Luther King Jr. for equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition, including the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery in Alabama, which culminated in President Lyndon Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act.

The film has been nominated for four Golden Globes: Best Picture, Best Actor (David Oyelowo), Best Director (Ava DuVernay) and Best Song ("Glory" by Common and John Legend).

"Martin Luther King, Jr.'s momentous journey in Alabama is an important piece of American history," said Bill Lewis, co-chairman of investment banking at Lazard, who also donated to the ticket fund. "We are passionate about bringing this story to New York City's students and we encourage business leaders in other cities to organize similar programs so that more students around the country have the chance to see this powerful film about an epic chapter in American history."

"Paramount is honored to partner with New York City's deeply esteemed business men and women to give students in New York the opportunity to experience Ava DuVernay's beautiful and moving masterpiece," said Brad Grey, chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures.

The participating theaters are:

MANHATTAN
AMC Loews 34th Street 14
AMC Loews Kips Bay 15
AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13
AMC Empire 25
AMC Magic Johnson Harlem 9
Bow Tie Chelsea Cinemas 9
City Cinemas East 86th Street Cinema
Regal Battery Park Stadium 11
Regal Union Square Stadium 14

BROOKLYN
Alpine Cinemas 8
Bam Harvey Theater
Cobble Hill Cinemas 5
Linden Boulevard Multiplex Cinemas 14
The Pavilion Theater
UA Court Street 12
UA Sheepshead Bay Stadium 14
Williamsburg Cinemas 7

QUEENS
UA Kaufman Astoria Cinemas 14, Queens
Movieworld Cinemas 7, Queens
AMC Fresh Meadows 7, Queens
UA Midway Stadium 9, Queens
Regal Atlas Park Stadium 8, Queens
Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas 15, Queens
College Point Multiplex Cinemas 12, Queens

BRONX
AMC Bay Plaza Cinema 13, Bronx
Concourse Plaza Multiplex 10, Bronx

STATEN ISLAND
UA Staten Island Stadium 16, Staten Island

You May Also Be Interested In These Stories

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.