THE BEST OF ENEMIES, a timely, inspiring civil rights drama debuts in theaters nationwide on April 5, bringing national attention to Durham’s civil rights history during our 150^th anniversary year.

We’re pleased to announce THE BEST OF ENEMIES Durham Special Screening at The Carolina Theatre will take place on March 19, giving Durhamites the opportunity to witness the powerful story of school desegregation and an unexpected friendship come to life on the big screen first. Tickets to the special screening go on sale March 1 and are expected to sell out.

We’re announcing this to Supporters of Durham 150 in advance of notifying the general public.

Based on a true story, THE BEST OF ENEMIES centers on the extraordinary relationship between Ann Atwater (played by Academy Award® nominee Taraji P. Henson), a fearless and outspoken civil rights activist who faced off against C.P. Ellis (played by Academy Award winner® Sam Rockwell), a local Ku Klux Klan leader, to blaze the way for school desegregation.

Through an incredible series of events and against all odds, these two people – with very different views and backgrounds – formed a friendship that ultimately led to large scale social change. Directed, written and produced by Robin Bissell, previously a producer of The Hunger Games and Seabiscuit, the book-to-film adaptation is inspired by the true events chronicled in “The Best of Enemies: Race and Redemption in the New South” by Osha Gray Davidson.

General admission tickets to the Durham Special Screening at The Carolina Theatre will be $15 with a limited number of VIP tickets available at $100. VIP tickets include a wine reception with Bissell and Davidson, as well as actors and those portrayed in the film potentially present; a signed copy of the book, ‘The Best of Enemies: Race and Redemption in the New South;’ and premium reserved seating. Net proceeds will benefit the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, an organization dedicated to ending systematic racism and the injustices of poverty and inequality.

Tickets to THE BEST OF ENEMIES Durham Special Screening at The Carolina Theatre on March 19 will go on sale on March 1 at 10:00 a.m.:

• Online at CarolinaTheatre.org
• The Carolina Theatre’s Fletcher Hall Box Office at 309 W. Morgan Street, Durham, NC, 27701
• Ticketmaster.com

Durham 150 has collaborated with the Best of Enemies Premiere Committee with the generous support of The Forest at Duke, sponsor of the VIP reception.

Sincerely,
Shelly Green & Patrick Mucklow
Co-Chairs, Durham 150