Michael Franti to Release Self-Directed 'Stay Human' Documentary Film

Stay Human, the new award-winning documentary film directed by critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Michael Franti, is set for its on demand and digital release January 25 via Cinedigm. The film will be available on DVD and Blu-ray this spring.

Stay Human has won an array of awards while on the festival circuit, including the RWJ Barnabas Health Award at the 2018 Asbury Park Music & Film Festival, the Audience Award at the 2018 NASHVILLE Film Festival, the Audience Award and THE VOICE for Humanity Award at the 2018 ILLUMINATE Film Festival, the Inspiration Award at the 2018 Tahoe Film Fest and the Soul in Cinema Award at the 2018 Maui Film Festival.

Franti is a globally recognized musician, humanitarian, and award-winning filmmaker known for his high-energy live shows, uplifting music and worldwide philanthropic efforts. In Stay Human, he takes the audience on an experiential journey through his songs and stories of people around the world who have chosen to overcome cynicism with optimism and hope.

"Stay Human is all about finding ways to hold on to our humanity during challenging times like the ones we are living in today," Franti explains. "I could not be more excited or grateful to be working with the inspiring team at Cinedigm, championing this message through the release of the film, in a time when it's needed more than ever!"

"It is a rare and exciting opportunity to release the work of esteemed artist and filmmaker Michael Franti," adds Yolanda Macias, Cinedigm's Executive Vice-President of Acquisitions. "We are proud to distribute this touching documentary that draws inspiration from humankind across the world. Franti's message is an important reminder to film and music lovers alike just what it means to 'Stay Human.'"

Activist Artists Management notes, "We are so pleased that Stay Human found its home at Cinedigm, the largest independent distributor, whose scale will enable the film to reach a global audience with its inspiring and uplifting message."

Franti recently made a series of special intimate appearances throughout the western U.S. at screenings of Stay Human, with each screening featuring an introduction by and Q&A with Franti as well as an acoustic performance by Franti accompanied by Carl Young (bass, vocals) and Victoria Canal (keys, vocals). Watch/share the trailer for Stay Human at https://youtu.be/NaQu7n4NA6s.

The digital release of the Stay Human film coincides with the release of Franti's new album with his band Spearhead, Stay Human Vol. II, via Thirty Tigers also on January 25.

Billboard previously premiered the video for the lead single "Just To Say I Love You" at https://bit.ly/2QujiNb. Pre-orders of the album come with instant downloads of the album tracks "Just To Say I Love You," "Stay Human 2," "Flower In The Gun" (feat. Victoria Canal) and "Nobody Cries Alone" and are available at https://ffm.to/stayhumanvol2.

The writing on Stay Human Vol. II-which is co-produced by Franti alongside Ben Simonetti (Zac Brown Band, Shemekia Copeland, Blake Shelton), Niko Moon (Zac Brown Band), Kevin Bard (Fitz & The Tantrums) and others-was heavily influenced by Franti's work on the film.

Franti began writing music as a way to process both the political landscape of the late 1980s and the unique sounds and ideas of his Bay Area upbringing. In 1994, Franti formed Michael Franti & Spearhead. Touring with his band, Franti continued to notice inequality and injustice both at home and abroad. The band released their seminal Stay Human album in 2000, reflecting on the unjust nature of the death penalty among other themes, to make sense of our common humanity in juxtaposition to near constant violations of human rights.

Franti released his first self-directed documentary, I Know I'm Not Alone, in 2005 to widespread critical acclaim. The film depicts his mission for peace in the Middle East, with a focus on the human cost of war. Franti visited war zones in Iraq, Israel and Palestine again finding common connection, playing music to both soldiers and civilians regardless of affiliation.

Michael Franti & Spearhead continue to foster the community both on and off stage and with Michael and his wife Sara's foundation Do It For The Love, a wish granting nonprofit that brings those with life threatening illnesses, veterans and children with severe challenges to concerts. His recent musical projects have included the Billboard #1 single "The Sound of Sunshine" (2010) and full-length releases All the People (2013) and SOULROCKER (2016), which topped the Billboard rock album charts at #4 and #5, respectively.