SELMA tells the story of the historic struggle to secure voting rights for African-Americans. British actor David Oyelowo (The Butler) stars as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. alongside Tom Wilkinson (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Michael Clayton) as President Lyndon B. Johnson; Carmen Ejogo (Alex Cross, Ride And Glory) as Coretta King; Tim Roth (Arbitrage, The Incredible Hulk) as Governor George Wallace; and Oprah Winfrey as Annie Lee Cooper. The film is directed by Ava DuVernay (Middle of Nowhere).
The film tracks a dangerous and terrifying three month campaign led by Dr King which culminated in the epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in March 1965. The campaign galvanized American public opinion and persuaded President Johnson to introduce the Voting Rights Act, protecting African-Americans’ right to vote. 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of this pivotal moment in the US Civil Rights Movement.
