Celebrating its 45th anniversary, director Andrew Davis‘ first film “Stony Island” will make its digital debut on major VOD platforms and DVD on Nov. 17. That same day, there will be a theatrical screening of the film at the Gene Siskel Center in Chicago. Following the one-night-only screening, Davis and his brother Richie Davis will host a Q&A session.
“Stony Island” tells the story of “two struggling musicians who buck the odds in their attempt to form an R&B band and take it on the road,” according to a release provided to PvNew. It follows Richie Bloom, the only white kid on the block, who forms a band with his best friend Kevin Tucker. Aging sax legend Percy Price mentors them as they pull together a funky supergroup. Armed with little resources and facing heavy losses, the musicians must unite to make their smash debut.
The film received accolades and awards at Utah/US Film Festival, the Deauville Film Festival, the Santa Fe International Music & Film Festival and the Chicago International Film Festival. In addition to directing, Davis co-wrote and co-produced the film with Tamar Hoffs. The cast includes Richard Davis, Gene Barge, George Englund Jr., Rae Dawn Chong, Susanna Hoffs, Dennis Franz and Oscar Brown Jr.
Freestyle Digital Media, the digital film distribution division of Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group, acquired the North American VOD rights and negotiated the deal directly with filmmaker Davis and his Chicago Pacific Entertainment.
“I feel blessed that my first film is going to be available everywhere,” Davis said in a statement. “‘Stony Island’ is a story about how music makes us one. The streets of the South Side of Chicago have delivered to the world amazing talent and joy. ‘Stony Island’ captures the struggles of these musicians with themes of humanity and sharing that resonate today.”
Tickets for the screening are available for purchase at siskelfilmcenter.org/stony-island.
Watch the trailer below.
