From two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington and an ensemble cast led by Washington that includes Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker, comes The Great Debaters. Inspired by a true story, The Great Debaters chronicles the journey of Professor Melvin Tolson (Denzel Washington), a brilliant but volatile debate team coach who uses the power of words to shape a group of underdog students from a small African American college in the deep south into a historically elite debate team. A controversial figure, Professor Tolson challenged the social mores of the time and was under constant fire for his unconventional and ferocious teaching methods as well as his radical political views.

In their pursuit for excellence, Tolson's debate team receives a groundbreaking invitation to debate Harvard University's championship team. The film is directed by Denzel Washington and stars Washington, Forest Whitaker, Jurnee Smollett, Nate Parker, Denzel Whitaker, and Kimberly Elise. The Great Debaters was written by Robert Eisele and produced by Todd Black, Kate Forte, Oprah Winfrey and Joe Roth. Presented by The Weinstein Company, The Great Debaters will be released in the U.S. by MGM on December 25th.

One of the film’s primary themes centers on the value of debate as an intellectual and political tool. Coach Melvin B. Tolson teaches his debaters how to find their voices and the need to speak out against injustice. Later in his life, James Farmer Jr. would credit his experiences as a debater with giving him the leadership skills to become an influential civil rights leader and advocate for change at rallies, with politicians, and among his colleagues.

The movie is just the beginning.

The film raises awareness about the ongoing fight against inequality in America and how everyone deserves access to the same opportunities. Help in this fight by supporting debate and Taking Action.

Official site: www.thegreatdebatersmovie.com
Theatrical release date: December 25.