On Friday night, the inspirational documentary The Russian Winter had its world premiere at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival. This event had TFF crowds buzzing and drew celebrities like Natasha Bedingfield, Petra Nemcova, Sara Ziff, Michael Kenneth Williams, Ben Taylor and many more. Perhaps the biggest thrill on the red carpet was the appearance of many of the musicians featured in the film: in addition to Bedingfield, Russian artists Sunsay and Alina Orlova crossed continents to be at the premiere in support of John Forte and the film.

The Russian Winter is a stirring music documentary to be sure, but in many ways it is just as much a road movie. The film follows former Fugees member John Forte from his early years growing up in Brownsville, Brooklyn, to the prestigious Philip Exeter Academy, which he attended on scholarship, to a prison cell in Texas following a drug arrest, and finally to Moscow and an ambitious charitable concert tour. During his nine-week journey through Russia, Forte reflects on his own life and collaborates with talented Russian musicians. With his fellow performers, he entertains a series of unlikely audiences, sharing his messages and music with the other side of the world.

For a change of pace for tonight, TFF attendees can head over to the Bowery Ballroom to see and hear John Forte and friends in person. They will be performing songs featured in The Russian Winter and sharing other collaborative efforts inspired by the film. The artists featured in the documentary— international music stars Natasha Bedingfield, Sunsay, Alina Orlova—will join John on stage along with other surprise guests. Tickets are still available, so please join us for a night of storytelling and song.

THE RUSSIAN WINTER screens three more times during the Festival, so you can have the benefit of movie theater sound quality when you hear John and his fellow artists perform, which we highly recommend. If you want to watch The Russian Winter before the concert tonight, you can do that too! The fantastic documentary is streaming right now through Tribeca Online Film Festival.

We hope to see you there!