There’s only one neighborhood in NYC that could properly host the premiere of A THOUSAND AND ONE – Harlem World, USA, which is also the setting of A.V. Rockwell’s highly-anticipated debut feature film. Focus Features held the premiere on Wednesday at AMC Magic Johnson Harlem 9 ahead of the movie’s Friday, March 31 release in theaters. Friends and supporters of A THOUSAND AND ONE star Teyana Taylor and Rockwell made it a star-studded affair.
A THOUSAND AND ONE is writer-director Rockwell’s feature film debut, and it powerfully touches on themes of family, love, gentrification, housing inequality, and more. Taylor plays Inez de la Paz, an “unapologetic and free-spirited” woman “who kidnaps her six-year-old son Terry from the foster care system. Holding onto their secret and each other, mother and son set out to reclaim their sense of home, identity, and stability, in a rapidly changing New York City.” Aaron Kingsley Adetola, Aven Courtney, and Josiah Cross took on the role of Terry at ages 6, 13, and 17 respectively. Will Catlett also stars as Lucky, the patriarch of the family Inez is building. A THOUSAND AND ONE won the Grand Jury Prize at The Sundance Film Festival.
Eddie Vaisman, Julia Lebedev, Lena Waithe, Rishi Rajani, and Brad Weston produced A THOUSAND AND ONE, and Oren Moverman and Jamin O’Brien served as executive producers.
See more photos from the A THOUSAND AND ONE Harlem premiere in the gallery below.
A THOUSAND AND ONE Harlem Premiere Red-Carpet Photos
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom 25th Anniversary: April 22, 2023 marks a special milestone as Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park celebrates its 25th anniversary. While visiting this grand park dedicated to the education and preservation of wildlife, be sure to experience the return of the Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo: The Big Blue…and Beyond! stage shows. Of course, when visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom, be sure to experience roller coaster thrills of Expedition Everest, riding an Ikran on Flight of Passage in Pandora – The World of Avatar, as well as try to stay dry (you won’t) on Kali River Rapids.
- Roundup Rodeo BBQ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Toy Story comes alive with the recent opening of Roundup Rodeo BBQ in Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and it is the only Toy Story-themed table service restaurant in the world. The restaurant serves up delicious barbecue-inspired comfort foods, crafted beverages of the non-alcohol and alcohol variety, and tasty desserts.
- EPCOT Transformation Continues: This fall, EPCOT will debut many new offerings as part of its multi-year transformation. Guests will be able to explore the wonders of water when Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana opens. This fun interactive outdoor trail offers a chance to play and interact with water as it travels from the sky to the oceans and back again. Autumn will also see completion of the new World Celebration neighborhood and the introduction of the new Communicore Plaza and the new Communicore Hall, where guests can meet Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. Additionally, the long-awaited new statue, Walt the Dreamer, will be unveiled at Dreamers Point. And later this year, EPCOT guests will be able to experience a brand-new nighttime spectacular where music, pyrotechnics, lasers, and lighting will come alive.
Disney100 Celebration: Later this year, Walt Disney World Resort will join the global celebration of The Walt Disney Company’s 100th Anniversary, which highlights the company’s 10 decades of creativity and innovation.
Jada Stewart is a 16-year-old junior who has a passion for building and flying! Jada is currently a Cadet Senior Airman in the NC Civil Air Patrol, youth group student leader, and is enrolled in ground school to obtain her private pilot’s license. Her goal is to become a Disney Imagineer and a commercial airline pilot.
Maria Maione is a 16-year-old honor student who is taking AP classes and is enrolled in the Engineering Program. Maria’s first language is American Sign Language and she is passionate about deaf culture, deaf advocacy, and disability rights. She testified on behalf of the Deaf/HOH youth community in front of the New Jersey Senate and Assembly to pass the Deaf Student Bill of Rights. Maria has an interest in electronics and plans on pursuing a career as an electrical engineer.
Ryan Razon, a 15-year-old sophomore, has a passion for math, computer programming, and dance. For the past seven years, Ryan has studied classical ballet, contemporary, jazz, and hip-hop and performs in productions within his community with his pre-professional ballet company. He cares deeply about diversity and inclusion and holds leadership positions in both the National Society of Black Engineers and NAACP junior chapters. Ryan aspires to use his talent and art to create the change that he wants to see in the world.
Ryan Nelson is a 17-year-old senior who is passionate about many things especially architecture, science, and advocacy. Ryan’s two dreams for the future are to be a Disney Imagineer and an inspiration for trans and gender non-conforming youth.
Medha Pulluru, a 16-year-old junior, spends time creating art, shadowing at hospitals and clinics, and conducting research. She’s also passionate about recognizing issues in her community and seeking to find solutions to problems big and small. Medha plans to go into medicine and pursue a career in neurosurgery.
Erin Shen is a sophomore who enjoys bringing joy and creativity into the world. Erin serves as a dance choreographer for her high school’s theater program and is the editor in chief of her school’s literary club. Erin would like to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.
