Peacocks Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist to Close Marthas Vineyard African A

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Taraji P. Henson, Don Cheadle, Chloe Bailey, exec. producer Will Packer and creator Shaye Ogbonna will appear at the fest

Prepare for a knockout. Peacock‘s limited series “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist” will premiere at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival on Aug. 10, closing out its 22nd edition with a star-studded night of programming.

The special presentation will include a career-spanning conversation with “Fight Night” executive producer Will Packer, titled “The Power of Legacy and Influence,” followed by a screening of the show. Then, series stars Taraji P. Henson, Don Cheadle and Chloe Bailey; creator, writer, showrunner and executive producer Shaye Ogbonna; and Packer will sit for one of the festival’s signature “Color of Conversation” discussions. Throughout the evening, DJ Trauma will spin a variety of rare groove vinyls, mashups and hip-hop and soul hits from the 1970s and today to keep the vibe at the venue high.

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Based on the acclaimed true-crime podcast, “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist” chronicles how an armed robbery on the night of Muhammad Ali’s historic 1970 comeback fight “changed not only one man’s life but ultimately transformed Atlanta into the ‘Black Mecca.'”

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The official synopsis for the series reads: “When a hustler named Chicken Man (Kevin Hart) hosts an afterparty to celebrate the fight with a guest list of the country’s wealthiest, the night ends with the most brazen criminal underworld heist in Atlanta’s history. Suspected of masterminding the crime, Chicken Man is hellbent on clearing his name but must convince his old adversary, J.D. Hudson (Don Cheadle), one of the first Black detectives in the city’s desegregated police force, who is tasked with bringing those responsible to justice.”

The limited series begins streaming Sept. 5 on Peacock.

The MVAAFF, an Oscar-qualifying film festival in the short film category, was established in 2002 by Run & Shoot Filmworks principals Floyd and Stephanie Rance with a focus on amplifying Black voices, storytelling and culture.

This year’s festival, which runs from Aug. 2-10, also features an opening night presentation of “Sing Sing” with star Colman Domingo; a special preview of Universal’s “Wicked” with star Cynthia Erivo; the world premiere of “The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can Eat,” starring Uzo Aduba, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and Sanaa Lathan; the new MGM+ series “Emperor of Ocean Park”; and the buzzy documentaries Netflix’s “Daughters,” CNN/OWN’s “Luther: Never Too Much” and A&E’s “Ol’ Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys.”

Additional screenings and panel discussions will be updated throughout the festival, with all scheduled to take place at Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center (MVPAC). For more information on the MVAAFF and a complete schedule, visit mvaaff.com.

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