The Great Debaters

“One of the year’s best films” - Chicago Sun Times

“Terrific acting” - Hollywood Reporter

“Makes you believe again in the power of movies to inspire” - Maxim 

A-list Academy Award winners Denzel Washington (‘Unstoppable’; ‘The Book Of Eli’) and Forest Whitaker (‘The Last King Of Scotland’; ‘Repo Men’) star in the gripping Golden Globe nominated drama ‘The Great Debaters’ which is released by High Fliers on retail DVD on August 22^nd.

The film, which Washington also directed, was inspired by the true story of a temperamental debating coach who moulded the students of a small Texas college into one of the US’s most formidable debating teams.

Denzel Washington plays the role of ambitious coach Professor Melvin Tolson while Forest Whitaker plays Dr James Farmer Snr, the resentful father of a student whose loyalties now lie almost exclusively with his coach.

Tolson, an outspoken Wiley College professor, recognises the remarkable power of knowledge and can see how his young debating students possess the spark of a new generation.

Convinced that they could invoke great change if given the necessary confidence and tools, he implores them to take responsibility for their future while at the same time furtively attempting to protect them from his clandestine role as an organiser for the Southern Tenant Farmers Union.

One of Tolson's most promising students is the 14-year-old prodigy James Farmer Jr. whose father is a renowned scholar and a major influence in the emerging student's life.

However, James Snr. has yet to learn how to truly harness the power of knowledge through action and assertion but his son has seen the appalling effects of racism all around him and longs to live in a world where nobody is in fear simply because of the colour of their skin.

Tolson coaches his team to a virtually undefeated season that includes the first debate in the US between white and black students and which ends with an invitation to challenge Harvard University's national champions.

The team must rise to the Harvard challenge but are forced to play out the contest in front of a national radio audience and against the backdrop of a racist lynch mob, violent clashes with the police and a near riot.

 ‘The Great Debaters’ has a run time of 100 minutes, a 15 certificate and a recommended retail price of £ 12.99. 

Whistleblowers, zombies… and how to stay out of prison

Freedom, revolution and communication have shaped human history since the dawn of mankind.

Those three themes form the backbone of this year’s Festival of Ideas at the University of Cambridge - the UK’s only arts, humanities and social sciences festival.

Taking place from 19-30 October 2011, the festival, now in its fourth year, returns with more than 160 free events for all ages spanning everything from the Arab Spring and Wikileaks, to Darwin’s work on facial expressions and a presentation, complete with mock-up cell, on how to stay out of prison.

World-class speakers, celebrity writers and leading academics will be on hand to engage, explain and examine today’s burning issues - and looking at what lessons we can learn from the past.

As the population imminently approaches the seven billion mark, we ask leading academics to debate whether the Earth can sustain this many people.

Meanwhile, whistleblowers, computer security researchers and policymakers will discuss whether the Internet should be censored in light of the Wikileaks revelations;  and experts will debate the consequences of the uprisings, protests and civil wars in the Arab world.

Organiser Sophie Smith said: “The purpose of the festival is to examine the biggest question facing us today and not shy away from contentious issues. That is why we’re holding debates on everything from the right to have reproductive freedom in light of an ever-increasing world population, to Mau Mau torture claims, to the Arab Spring.”

The main day of the festival, on Saturday, October 22, is bursting with free events for the whole family to enjoy. There will be talks by world-famous children’s authors Marcus Sedgwick and zombie-loving Charlie Higson; debates by pioneering academics and dozens of hands-on activities for adults as well as children.

Popcorn comedy for kids sees Holly Walsh and CBBC’s Ed Petrie present some of the funniest videos online mixed with stand-up comedy for all the family.

Also on October 22, Dr Michael Scott will explore Delphi and Olympia; and the fate of the English language will be questioned by Dr Andrew Dalby and Dr Stephen Pax. Leonard, just returned from a year spent recording the language of the Inughuit people of north-west Greenland, the northernmost settled population in the world.

This year’s festival sees the return and expansion of a pioneering new musical initiative following last year’s sell-out opera in the vaults of the Museum of Zoology. This year there will be a special late-night opening at five of the University Museums with live performances and sound installations.

Perhaps the most eagerly-anticipated music event of the festival is Unlocking music’s secrets at King’s College Chapel, featuring choral and solo instrumental performances as the evolution of music – from the medieval era to the 21^st Century - is played out before the audience’s eyes and ears.

The full programme is available from August and can be requested by phoning 01223 766766. Please visit: 

www.cam.ac.uk/festivalofideas.

Bookings open on Monday 5 September.