SXSW Film Preview: Sing Your Song

A biographical look at singer/performer/activist Harry Belafonte, Sing Your Song is the latest film from director and documentarian Susanne Rostock. Throughout his life, Belafonte has overcome racial injustice, worked alongside Martin Luther King, Jr. in the struggle for civil rights, and unabashedly fought for the rights of others.

A controversial figure for a decent portion of his life, Belafonte isn't one to keep quiet about things he feels are wrong. He was an important enough name at the time to even appear in a political ad for JFK in 1960.

As he approaches his 85th year, Sing Your Song reminds us of Belafonte's courageous work and powerful voice. The film promises to be an intimate look at the performer and the role he has played in both pop cultural (first African-American to win an Emmy in 1959) and national (blacklisted by McCarthy, bailed MLK Jr out of Birmingham jail) history.

Note: if you miss the screening at SXSW, HBO has acquired the rights to the film and plans to air it in the fall.

Sing Your Song screens at 4:30pm Thursday March 17. See the SxSW schedule for more info.