Cassius X: Becoming Ali this Black History Month
Feature documentary CASSIUS X: Becoming Ali is set to launch across UK cinemas, with the film scheduled for release, to coincide with this year’s Black History Month, at independent cinemas on 13 October previewing on 12 October in all UK Vue cinemas as part of its BFI Presents programme.
CASSIUS X: Becoming Ali follows the early years of Cassius Clay, from bright-eyed rookie to world heavyweight champion and from working-class intellectual to one of America’s most influential civil rights campaigners. The film reveals how the teachings of Elijah Muhammad, reinforced by a friendship with revolutionary preacher, Malcolm X, set Clay on the journey to become "Cassius X", before his induction to the Nation of Islam and ascension to the name of the great Muhammad Ali. CASSIUS X: Becoming Ali is the extraordinary story of how one young boxer from Louisville, Kentucky became a cultural icon for the ages, forever to be known thereafter as “The Greatest”.
The film secured BFI funding to create a programme of specially curated event screenings in partnership with The New Black Film Collective - which works towards creating and cultivating a vibrant Black ecosystem in the UK film and TV sector by championing Black-led film production, distribution, exhibition and preserving Black filmmaking and television - this will include Q&A sessions with the film’s director, author of the book of which the film has been adapted as well as members of the boxing community and social justice campaigners.
Directed by Muta’Ali Muhammad an award-winning, NAACP Image Award-nominated film director. His credits include the critically acclaimed Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn (HBO), Life’s Essentials with Ruby Dee (BET), and the Gracie Award-winning Hear Her Voice (ABC). His television work includes serving as a producer on Soul Of A Nation, Juneteenth: Together We Triumph, and After Floyd: The Year That Shook The World.
A UK production, the feature is an adaptation of the book Cassius X: A Legend in the Making by legendary broadcaster and writer Stuart Cosgrove whose previous works include; Detroit 67: the Year That Changed Soul; Harlem 69: the Future of Soul and Memphis 68: The Tragedy of Southern Soul which won the Penderyn Prize, as Music Book of the Year in 2018.
The film is being distributed to cinemas across the UK by theatrical distribution specialist Cosmic Cat Films.
CASSIUS X: Becoming Ali (1 x 90 mins), produced by Two Rivers Media, was Directed by award-winning filmmaker Muta’Ali Muhammad, it received its world premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival in 2022. The Executive Producers are Alan Clements and Mick McAvoy for Two Rivers Media.
Tickets for CASSIUS X: Becoming Ali are available for purchase at https://www.cosmiccatfilms.com/cassiusx with screenings set to run across two months following its launch.