[07/22/20 - 07:19 AM] Crackle Announces the US Premiere of Original Basketball Documentary Feature "Anything Is Possible - The Serge Ibaka Story", Available August 1 The documentary follows the Toronto Raptors' power forward as he makes an emotional journey back to the Republic of Congo with the Larry O'Brien trophy following the team's 2019 NBA Championship.
[via press release from Crackle]
CRACKLE ANNOUNCES THE US PREMIERE OF ORIGINAL BASKETBALL DOCUMENTARY FEATURE "ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE - THE SERGE IBAKA STORY", AVAILABLE AUGUST 1
Produced by LeBron James' company, UNINTERRUPTED Canada and Ouenzé Entertainment, the documentary follows the inspirational life story of Toronto Raptors' power forward, from the poverty-stricken streets of the Republic of Congo to the NBA championship
NEW YORK, N.Y., July 22, 2020 - Crackle Plus, a Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (Nasdaq: CSSE) company and one of the largest operators of streaming advertising-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) networks, in partnership with Screen Media announced today the U.S. premiere of its original documentary feature, Anything is Possible - The Serge Ibaka Story, launching on Saturday, August 1.
As one of the only AVODs continually adding original and exclusive programming that uplifts, entertains, and inspires audiences, Crackle adds Anything is Possible - The Serge Ibaka Story alongside original and exclusive titles that can only be found on Crackle, including Road to Race Day, On Point, Cleanin' Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters, The Clearing, Crown Vic, '85: The Greatest Team in Football History, Wonders of the Sea, Yelawolf: A Slumerican Life, and Going From Broke, recently picked up for a second season.
Making its world debut at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival, this feature length documentary was produced by Vinay Virmani at UNINTERRUPTED Canada, along with Jordi Vilà and Serge Ibaka's Ouenzé Entertainment. The documentary follows the Toronto Raptors' power forward as he makes an emotional journey back to the Republic of Congo with the Larry O'Brien trophy following the team's 2019 NBA Championship. Ibaka takes viewers through the streets he grew up on after he lost his mother and his father was imprisoned for political reasons. He talks basketball with the President of the Republic of Congo, returns to a restaurant where he once begged for food, and visits with his old coach and the basketball club where he fell in love with the game. Ibaka continues to give back to his community through the Serge Ibaka Foundation and Dreams Academy, where local children come for mentorship and coaching in the hopes of earning a college scholarship. Throughout it all, he continually teaches everyone around him that through courage, commitment, and hard work, ANYTHING is possible.
"I wanted to tell my story in a unique and different way," said Ibaka. "I will never forget where I come from, and my journey to becoming an NBA Champion has been hard to believe. I think everyone can enjoy this film, but I will be especially proud if I can inspire at least one kid, in Congo or anywhere in the world, to give their all to reach for their dreams."
"We are very proud to bring Anything is Possible - The Serge Ibaka Story to our Crackle audience," said Philippe Guelton, president of Crackle Plus. "This stirring documentary will not just entertain our sports-hungry viewers, it will inspire viewers to witness how Serge overcame so many obstacles to achieve his dreams."
"This marks UNINTERRUPTED Canada's first international distribution agreement and we couldn't be prouder to have partnered with a world class streaming service like Crackle Plus," said Vinay Virmani, chief content officer of UNINTERRUPTED Canada. "I'm excited that this inspirational story will be enjoyed by a new and expanded global audience."
Anything is Possible - The Serge Ibaka Story is distributed in North America and Africa by Screen Media, a Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment company, and the supplier of exclusive and original content for Crackle Plus.
Crackle is available in the U.S. and can be accessed on 25 devices and services including Amazon FireTV, RokuTV, Apple TV, Smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Vizio), gaming consoles (PS4 and XBoxOne), Plex, iOS and Android mobile devices and on desktops at Crackle.com. Crackle is also available in approximately 500,000 hotel rooms in the Marriott Bonvoy chain.
CRACKLE PLUS, A CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY
Crackle Plus owns and operates ad-supported VOD networks Crackle and Popcornflix and garners 50 million streams of its movies and TV shows per month, making it one of the largest AVOD streaming platforms in the U.S. Crackle Plus has over 78,000 hours of content available across all its networks, and premieres at least one original and one exclusive program each month, differentiating it from other AVODs. Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSSE) owns a majority stake in the company formed with Sony Pictures Television. Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment also acquires and distributes video content through its Screen Media subsidiary and produces original long and short-form content through Landmark Studio Group, its Chicken Soup for the Soul Originals division and APlus.com. Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment is a subsidiary of Chicken Soup for the Soul, LLC, which publishes the famous book series and produces super-premium pet food under the Chicken Soup for the Soul brand name.
ABOUT SCREEN MEDIA VENTURES, LLC
Screen Media Ventures, LLC, a Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSSE) company, acquires the rights to high quality, independent television series and feature films for the US and Canada. Screen Media Ventures acquires worldwide rights for distribution through theatrical, home video, pay-per-view, free, cable and pay television, video-on-demand, and new digital media platforms. The company acquires AVOD rights for third party networks and is the main supplier of content for Crackle Plus and other Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment properties. With a library of over 1,500 television series and motion pictures, Screen Media Ventures is one of the largest independent suppliers of high-quality tv series and motion pictures to U.S. and international broadcast markets, cable networks, home video outlets and new media venues. For more information, visit www.screenmedia.net.
UNINTERRUPTED Canada, co-led by CEO Scott Moore and Chief Content Officer Vinay Virmani, is the first international expansion of the athlete empowerment brand, UNINTERRUPTED, founded by LeBron James and Maverick Carter. The company is built upon the radical idea that all athletes should have a platform to express themselves without intermediaries. From this premise, a mission was born: to empower athletes from all walks of life to communicate in an unimpeded way and to be More Than an Athlete. UNINTERRUPTED is upending the world of sports media by working with athletes to tell unique, human stories from their point of view. Through content, products, events, partnerships and educational opportunities, UNINTERRUPTED is changing the way athletes engage with the public and empowering them to be known and valued for more than the sport they play.
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