Serenity Returns To Theaters For Charity

Last year, Joss Whedon’s follow-up to brilliant-but-cancelled Firefly was given a special global re-release to support the charity Equality Now. They raised over $65,000, and they had such a good time, they’re doing it again.

Starting June 23rd, 50 cities will hold special screenings of Serenity with the aim of raising $100,000! Tickets are already on sale, and a screening last night in Dublin has already pulled in over $4300. Check here for cities and to buy tickets.

Dirty secret: Though I’m a fan of Firefly, I’ve never seen this movie. But its playing this Saturday and for a good cause, so I have to go!

Full Press Release follows

GLOBAL SCI-FI CHARITY EVENT RETURNS IN JUNE 2007

Screenings of ‘Serenity’ Benefit Women’s Rights Advocacy Group

Science fiction fans are notorious for their passion for their favorite film or television series, launching massive letter writing campaigns to save their show, or attending conventions dressed as their favorite character. Fans of Joss Whedon’s cult sci-fi film Serenity and television series Firefly are challenging the cliche by converting that passion into positive global change with a series of charity events.

Last year, fans in 47 cities across the globe took on the challenge of raising money and awareness for women’s rights advocacy group, Equality Now. And so, the Can’t Stop The Serenity movement was born, raising over US$65,000 by holding charity screenings of the Serenity.

In 2007, Melbourne is at it again, being among the 50 cities that are aiming to raise over US$100,000 in global donations in Can’t Stop The Serenity’s second year.

“The slogan ‘done the impossible’ means a lot to fans of Firefly and Serenity. In 2006, we did the impossible. In 2007, we’re topping it,” global organizer Devin Pike said.

“In most cases, when you see a fan-based event centering on a particular show, it’s almost out of a sense of self-gratification. ‘We want more of our show,’ or ‘we want more stories from this crew of actors and writers.’ With the Can’t Stop The Serenity events, it’s a bit different. People across the planet are gathering resources to benefit a great charitable organization, by screening a film they know has a fervent fanbase.”

Equality Now, the charity benefiting from the screenings, works to end violence and discrimination against women and girls around the world through the mobilization of public pressure. Some of the issues Equality Now addresses are female genital mutilation (FGM), women’s rights in Third World countries, and suffrage in the Middle East.

Amanda Sullivan, Women’s Action Network Director of Equality Now, is enthusiastic about the response the Can’t Stop The Serenity movement has generated. “All of us at Equality Now continue to be amazed by and grateful for the Browncoats’ and Serenity fans’ generous and committed support for our work. Their energy and enthusiasm is inspiring and these screenings are coming at a critical time when we are especially in need of funds! We thank each and every one of them.”

“These events are unlike anything else in fandom,” Pike said. “You don’t see people putting on screenings of their favorite movie on a whim in one city, let alone fifty cities across the world. The organizers of Can’t Stop The Serenity are a really special group of people, and they’re creating something truly unique.”

The Melbourne Can’t Stop The Serenity benefit screening will take place on Saturday, June 23 at the RMIT Kaleide Theatre on Swanston Street (opposite Melbourne Central Station). Doors open at 6:30pm, with the event commencing at 7pm. In addition to screening the film Serenity, the event will also feature short films by fans, costume competition and the chance to win Serenity merchandise and autographed items. Tickets are $15, and are available at the door or online at http://cstsmelbourne.googlepages.com

About Joss Whedon’s Firefly and Serenity

Firefly is a science fiction television series that premiered in the United States and Canada in 2002. In Australia, it has screened a number of times on Channel Seven and Fox8. The series was developed by Joss Whedon, who also created the cult favorite Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series concept merged the classic Western genre with a science fiction backdrop, applying naturalistic science fiction concepts such as showcasing flawed characters in humble circumstances.

The short-lived series was cancelled after only eleven episodes were broadcast, however, strong sales of the DVD collection of all fourteen produced episodes allowed Whedon to convince Universal Studios to produce a film based on the series, titled Serenity after the crew’s spacecraft of the same name, which was released globally in 2005.

For More Information

Global Event Web Site: http://www.CantStopTheSerenity.com

Equality Now: http://www.EqualityNow.org

Serenity: http://www.universalpictures.com.au/title/serenity/