UMC -- Urban Movie Channel Announces Six New Streaming Premieres in Honor of Black History Month

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- RLJ Entertainment's Urban Movie Channel (UMC) kicks off Black History Month with the premiere of the Underground Railroad drama, The North Star, on February 5, 2016. Based on true events, the film chronicles the perilous journey of two slaves, Benjamin "Big Ben" Jones (played by former Philadelphia Eagles' Jeremiah Trotter) and Moses Hopkins (Thomas C. Bartley, Jr., Frat Brothers), who escaped from a Virginia plantation and made their way to freedom in Buckingham, Pennsylvania in 1849.  A directorial debut by Thomas K Philips, the feature film also stars Lynn Whitfield (Hit the Floor, Madea's Family Reunion, Eve's Bayou), Clifton Powell (35 and Ticking, Civil Brand, Moesha), and Keith David (Barbershop, ATL, Community).

On February 19, UMC will premiere Becoming Barack: Evolution of a Leader, a revealing portrait of President Barack Obama's formative years in Chicago, and Bound: Africans VS. African Americans, a hard hitting documentary that addresses the little known tension between Africans and African Americans, produced by Isaiah Washington and directed by filmmaker Peres Owino.  Later in the month on February 26, UMC will feature untold stories of history with the premieres of An American Ascent, a documentary about the first black mountaineer group to climb Denali, the highest peak in North America, and the first two installments from legendary producer/director Tim Reid's Legacy Documentary Series:  Legacy of Blacks in Auto Racing and Builders of the Alaska Highway.

Available at urbanmoviechannel.com, UMC is the first urban-focused streaming service in North America showcasing quality and exclusive urban content designed for African American and urban audiences. Sign-up today for your free 14-day trial offer and join the conversation and follow @WatchUMC on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook (UrbanMovieChannel).

About UMC - UMC – Urban Movie Channel was created by Robert L. Johnson, Chairman of RLJ Entertainment and founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET), UMC is an urban-focused subscription streaming service in North American and features quality urban content showcasing feature films, documentaries, original series, stand-up comedy, and other exclusive content for African American and urban audiences. New titles added weekly include live stand-up specials like Martin Lawrence Presents:  1st Amendment Stand Up and Comedy Underground Series, and performances featuring Academy Award® winner Jamie Foxx and comedic rock star Kevin Hart; dramas including Blackbird starring Academy Award® winning actress and comedian Mo'Nique, Isaiah Washington, and directed by Patrik-Ian Polk, and Playin' For Love, starring and directed by Robert Townsend; documentaries including Bill Duke's Dark Girls and I Ain't Scared of You: A Tribute to Bernie Mac; action/thrillers including The Colony starring Laurence Fishburne; and stage play productions including What My Husband Doesn't Know by David E. Talbert.  For more information visit: urbanmoviechannel.com

Media Inquiries: Traci Otey Blunt, 301.830.6204, [email protected].

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SOURCE RLJ Entertainment, Inc.