SUCCESSFUL WHITE HOUSE SCREENING OF MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM

US president, Barack Obama hosted a special screening of MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM at the White House last night in the company of producer Anant Singh, Mandela’s daughters, Zindzi and Zenani, lead actors Idris Elba and Naomie Harris and director, Justin Chadwick. Also in attendance were South African ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool; former US ambassador to South Africa, Donald Gips and his wife, Gill; editor of Time Magazine, Richard Stengel and US distributor of the film, Harvey Weinstein and his fashion designer wife, Georgina Chapman.

Commenting from Washington, Anant Singh said, “It is an exceptional honour to have presented MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM at the White House. It was a proud moment for us having Zindzi and Zenani Mandela with us, especially because we were together at the White House when Madiba was awarded the Congressional Medal Of Honour, bringing our journey to the White House to full circle. It also marks the continuation of the launch of the film with premieres in Johannesburg on Sunday, Durban on Tuesday and the White House screening on Thursday which will be followed by premieres in the United States next week.”

Speaking at the screening President. Obama said that Madiba had influenced him and so many people all over the world and that he was proud to host the screening at the White House and to have the Mandela family members and the filmmakers present.

Before the screening, the film makers were taken on a private tour of the White House.

MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM will have its US premiere in Los Angeles on 11 November hosted by Quincy Jones, followed by a premiere New York on 14 November.

MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM will be released in cinemas throughout South Africa on 28 November 2013.

Visual material: Pictured at the White House under portrait of Abraham Lincoln are Zindzi Mandela, Anant Singh and his wife, Vanashree.