MUSCLE SHOALS Documentary to Kick Off George Lindsey UNA Film Festival

The critically acclaimed "Muscle Shoals" documentary that captivated audiences at the Sundance Film Festival will be screened for its home audience Feb. 27 and March 1, at 7 each evening, as part of the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival. The feature-length film, which was directed by Greg "Freddy" Camalier, traces the history of Muscle Shoals music through the people who created it.

The Feb. 27 screening will be held at the Marriott Shoals Conference Center. The March 1 screening will be held at Norton Auditorium on the University of North Alabama campus.

Marking the official opening of the film festival, the Feb. 27 screening will be a star-studded VIP event featuring the documentary as well as live musical performances by some of the biggest names in Muscle Shoals music history. Grammy Award winner John Paul White, of The Civil Wars, will coordinate the entertainment.

Tickets for the screening and musical performances will be $100; table sponsorships are available. Proceeds from the concert will go to the Alabama Music Hall Of Fame and to support local exhibits pertaining to Muscle Shoals music.

Dr. Cynthia Burkhead, co-director of the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival, said her team is "very excited" about the opportunity to partner with the local music community for the screenings. "We are honored that our festival was selected as one of the venues for this amazing documentary," she said.

A Q&A session with local music Legends will follow the UNA screening.

"After observing the reactions to the documentary at the Sundance festival and reading the rave reviews from music critics all over the world, it became clear that we needed to share this film with the local community at the first available opportunity," said Rodney Hall, who worked closely with the filmmakers during the four-year production process. "The George Lindsey UNA Film Festival is the perfect fit for a documentary that celebrates our area's rich musical heritage."

Tickets for the Feb. 27 event are $100 and may be purchased at muscleshoals.eventbee.com.

Tickets for the March 1 screening are $20 and may be purchased at lindseyfilmfest.com.