The premiere of Antoine Fuqua’s movie Emancipation was held by Apple.
The movie “Powerful,” which is being hailed as a “powerful” picture and is a candidate for awards season, stars Will Smith as Peter, an oppressed man seeking liberation.
In time for award season, the historical thriller Emancipation reportedly got its first private showing on Saturday.
The NAACP and Apple Original Films, co-hosted a screening of the film during the 51st annual Legislative Conference of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation in Washington.
A small number of members of the Black community were invited to the screening in addition to Fuqua, the film’s director, and Smith, who plays the major character.
Although Apple has not yet announced a date for the movie’s formal release, it is anticipated that the movie will be available in time for award season.
Emancipation was a strong candidate until Smith’s ten-year Academy expulsion for hitting Chris Rock at the Oscars, for which he reportedly expressed regret in July.
Smith discussed the significance of the movie in his first remarks made in front of the public at the post-screening conference.
Smith spoke openly to the audience about his decision to join the production and stated, “I never wanted to portray us like that, you know, and then this picture came along and this is not a film about slavery.