‘City Of Dreams’ Filmmakers Offer $1M in Preview Tickets for Child Trafficking Drama

With the theatrical release of Roadside Attractions’ child trafficking drama City of Dreams approaching, the filmmakers will be giving away $1 million in free tickets for a series of sneak previews starting Wednesday, August 28, the studio announced today.

It’s anticipated that this generous giveaway will attract over 50,000 moviegoers. The initiative aims to bring trafficking survivors, individuals from anti-trafficking organizations, as well as schools, churches, municipalities, and people who might not otherwise afford a screening. Complimentary advance preview passes are available at the link.

In the top 25 markets nationwide, iHeart Media will provide live coverage with on-site talent to raise awareness about the critical issue of child trafficking. The ticket giveaway is made possible through a donation from John Devaney, founder of United Capital and Manor House Films.

City of Dreams, inspired by a landmark sweatshop case in El Monte, CA, follows the harrowing journey of a Mexican boy, played by newcomer Ari Lopez, whose dreams of becoming a soccer star are crushed when he is smuggled across the border and sold to a sweatshop in downtown Los Angeles. This film marks the feature debut of veteran producer Mohit Ramchandani, who directed from his own script.

In a statement regarding the ticket giveaway, Devaney mentioned, “Mo has done a brilliant job through this powerful and unforgettable film by focusing on this issue and telling this story, inspired by true events. Few topics deserve a more urgent spotlight. My family and I are privileged to help raise awareness by providing the opportunity to protect and save innocent children from slavery. We know America will be as moved as our growing list of Ambassadors and influencers who have pledged their support to the film.”

Ahead of City of Dreams’ release, numerous celebrities have joined the cause to promote the film and its mission to end child trafficking. The list includes actors Mira Sorvino, Sylvester Stallone, Martin Sheen, Anthony Ramos, Frank Grillo, Thomas Jane, Katheryn Winnick, Marisol Nichols, and Carlos Ponce; producer and studio executive Peter Guber; talk show host Kathie Lee Gifford; iHeart Latino president Enrique Santos; the Miami Heat’s Pat Riley; musician Prince Royce; journalists Pamela Silva, María Celeste, and María Elena Salinas; model Karolina Kurkova; and more.

Also starring Alfredo Castro, Paulina Gaitan, Golden Globe nominee Diego Calva, and Renata Vaca, the film hits theaters on August 30.

Ramchandani produced the film alongside Matthew Diezel, Jon Graham, Rufus Parker, and Sean Wolfington. Devaney, Azad Shivdasani, Tony Robbins, Luis Fonsi, Yalitza Aparicio, Sorvino, Vivek Ramaswamy, Colleen Camp, Luis Mandoki, Linda Perry, and Michael Phillips served as Executive Producers.

Source: Variety, Deadline