KCETLinks Original Documentary, STAND UP PLANET, Premieres at the 57 Annual San Francisco International Film Festival on April 8

Documentary Showcases the Universal Power of Comedy

to Change the World One Joke at a Time

Stand Up Planet Host Hasan Minhaj along with comedian Nato Green

will Perform Live Comedy Sets Prior to the Screening Co-presented by SF Sketchfest

LOS ANGELES, CA - April 14, 2014 - KCETLink, the national independent public media organization, will the premiere its original comedy documentary, STAND UP PLANET at the San Francisco International Film Festival on April 28.

As a selection in the Festivals Live & Onstage lineup, which features special guests that provide attendees with an unforgettable live experience, STAND UP PLANETs host, L.A.-based comic, HasanHYPERLINK http://www.standupplanet.org/2013/08/hasan-minhaj/ HYPERLINK http://www.standupplanet.org/2013/08/hasan-minhaj/Minhaj (Arrested Development, MTVs Failosophy) and comedian NatoHYPERLINK natogreen.com Green (The Nato Sessions, Iron Comic), will precede the films presentation with live, politically minded comedy sets at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas at 9:15 p.m. This event is co-presented by SF HYPERLINK http://sfsketchfest.com/x/Sketchfest.

STAND UP PLANET is equal parts reality TV, documentary journey and travelogue that brings viewers on a quest to find some of the best humor coming from far corners of the developing world. The comedy documentary, along with a companion comedy showcase and transmedia shorts, follow Minhajs epic journey of discovery to find the freshest comic voices in the most unlikely places: Mumbai, India and Johannesburg, South Africa. Along the way, Minhaj follows the jokes and personal experiences of these international comics deep into the hard truths of some of the toughest global poverty issues of our time. Along with a posse of friends, including acclaimed comics Nate HYPERLINK http://www.standupplanet.org/2013/08/nate-bargatze/Bargatze, James HYPERLINK http://www.standupplanet.org/2013/08/james-adomian/Adomian and Michelle HYPERLINK http://www.standupplanet.org/2013/08/michelle-buteau/,ButeauHYPERLINK http://www.standupplanet.org/2013/08/michelle-buteau/,, Minhaj invites comedians from India and South Africa to take part in the biggest night of their lives - performing in an international comedy showcase and television show in Hollywood - after a stop to meet three of comedys legends: Bill Cosby, Carl Reiner and producer Norman Lear.

Were so excited to premiere STAND UP PLANET at the San Francisco International Film Festival later this month, said David Munro, director and an executive producer, STAND UP PLANET. Comedy is a powerful weapon that a new generation of storytellers is using to spark change all over the world. Comedy doesnt recognize borders, and nothing is funnier - or more dangerous - than the truth.

For Festival tickets and information visit, festival.sffs.org.

The worldwide television premiere of STAND UP PLANET airs on Link TV and Pivot simultaneously on May 14, 2014 starting at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT. The KCET (Southern California) broadcast airs at 9 p.m. PT on May 14, 2014.

In addition, STAND UP PLANETs digital campaign - hosted on www.StandUpPlanet.org - provides viewers with behind-the-scenes content and ways to learn, share information and take action on global poverty in India and South Africa. The two-part documentary - STAND UP PLANET and STAND UP PLANET: Comedy Showcase will also be streamed on www.StandUpPlanet.org following the television premiere.

STAND UP PLANET is funded by a grant from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and produced by independent broadcaster KCETLink in association with Kontent Films. The television elements were directed by David Munro, and the projects executive producers are Wendy Hanamura, Caty Borum Chattoo, Paul S. Mason, Craig Minassian, David Munro, Xandra Castleton, Mark Decena and Teri Heyman. Munro and Castleton are the TV programs creators. The projects transmedia executive producers and directors are Caty Borum Chattoo and Wendy Hanamura.

Follow STAND UP PLANET on Twitter at @standupplanettv and on Facebook at facebook.com/StandUpPlanet. Follow the conversations at #StandUpPlanet. To learn more, watch the trailer and visit www.standupplanet.org.

About KCETLink

KCETLink is the national independent public transmedia organization formed by the merger between KCET and Link Media. A viewer-supported 501c(3) organization, its content is distributed nationally via satellite on DirecTV (375) and DISH (9410), in Southern and Central California via broadcast, as well as through various digital delivery systems. The combined organization reaches a wide broadcast audience that includes Link TVs 33 million satellite subscribers and KCETs 5.6 million households in Southern and Central California. KCETLink is committed to driving public media innovation with smarter ways to access content that engages all audiences with global storytelling. For additional information about KCETLink productions, web-exclusive content, programming schedules and community events, please visit kcet.org or linktv.org.

57th San Francisco International Film Festival

The 57th San Francisco International Film Festival runs April 24-May 8 at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas, Castro Theatre and New People Cinema in San Francisco and the Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley. Held each spring for 15 days, the International is an extraordinary showcase of cinematic discovery and innovation in one of the countrys most beautiful cities, featuring 200 films and live events, 14 juried awards and nearly $40,000 in cash prizes, upwards of 100 participating filmmaker guests and diverse and engaged audiences with more than 65,000 in attendance.

LINK:	http://www.kcet.org/about/pressroom/press-releases/kcetlinks-original-...
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