Posted by | Ray Cornelius

The advanced red carpet screening of Relativity’s new love story, Beyond The Lights  was held Tuesday night in Atlanta’s Regal Atlantic Station. The premiere was attended by the film’s writer and director, Gina Prince-Bythewood (Love & Basketball and The Secret Life of Bees) along with the male film lead, the talented Nate Parker (Pride, Red Tails, and The Great Debaters).

standing

Gina Prince-Bythewood and Nate Parker

Beyond the Lights stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Belle) as Noni, the music world’s latest superstar. But not all is what it seems, and the pressures of fame have Noni on the edge – until she meets Kaz Nicol, a young cop and aspiring politician (Parker)who’s been assigned to her detail. Drawn to each other, Noni and Kaz fall fast and hard, despite the protests of those around them who urge them to put their career ambitions ahead of their romance. But it is ultimately Kaz’s love that gives Noni the courage to find her own voice and break free to become the artist she was meant to be. The film also stars Minnie Driver as Noni overpowering mother Macy Jean, Danny Glover as Kaz’s father Captain David Nicol and Colson “Machine Gun Kelly” Baker as Noni’s rapper boyfriend Kid Culprit. There are also a number of celebrities who appear throughout the film including Chaka Khan, Big Sean, Roland Martin, Don Lemon, Rocsi Diaz, and the Chairman and CEO of BET, Debra L. Lee.

Nate Parker

Nate Parker talking during the Q&A Session

ATL stars and influencers in attendance included the wonderful host of the evening Gary with Da Tea from The Rickey Smiley Morning Show, Bravo’s Real Housewives of Atlanta’s newest member Claudia Jordan, WNBA wife Bo Talley, Actress Keshia Knight-Pulliam, R&B singer $hang, NEXT’s RL, BET’s Sunday Best Season 2 winner Yanna Crawley and Atlantic Records Marking Director Cannon Kent.  The screening was followed by a Q&A with Bythewood and Parker hosted by Gary with Da Tea.

Check out the photos below:

Gary with the T

Gary with Da Tea

 $hang

Recording artist $hang

Claudia

RHOA Claudia Jordan

Bo Talley

WNBA Coach Fred Williams with wife Bo Talley

RL

RL of the R&B group NEXT

Panel Discussion

Gina Prince-Bythewood & Nate Parker talking to Gary with Da Tea

Beyond the Lights  opens in theaters on November 14

Photo Credits: Prince Williams

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