CKEC Carmike Cinemas, Inc.

WESTFIELD, N.J., Sept. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- With schools back in session, grownups are reclaiming movie theaters after a summer of entertainment catering largely to kids with comic book superheroes and animated animals. Carmike Cinemas, in conjunction with independent film distributor, DigiNext, is pleased to announce a festival series of "movies that matter" starting October 3.  

"The five week series includes feature films and documentaries organized around central themes of the human condition - body, mind and soul," according to DigiNext co-founder, Larry Meistrich.

"For movie lovers, this is an opportunity to enjoy a local film festival experience at their nearby Carmike," said Bud Mayo, President of Carmike's Alternative Programming and Distribution Division. "These films have traveled to Sundance, Toronto, Palm Beach and other festivals. Our intent is to create an environment where audiences can share a common festival-like experience and talk together about the subjects presented. The announced features will also be accompanied by short films by local filmmakers from time to time," said Mayo.

Tickets for each title in the "Movies that Matter" series are available now at the theater box offices as well as online at www.fandango.com and www.movietickets.com.

Running America - Oct. 3, 5
What role can our minds play in pushing the human body beyond its assumed limits? This documentary follows ultra-marathoner and author of the new Simon and Schuster memoir "Running Man," Charlie Engel, and Marshall Ulrich in a 3,000 mile run from San Francisco to New York's Time Square in 46 days.  Filmed in 2008, Running America captures one of the most defining and difficult years in American history as the backdrop for an amazing and unpredictable expedition.

Drunktown's Finest - Oct. 10, 12
Poverty, alcoholism and the scarcity of decent jobs are part of the hardscrabble reality of the New Mexico Navajo community. In this feature, Sick Boy (Jeremiah Bitsui - Victor from Breaking Bad), has enlisted in the Army to support his family but may be discharged before basic training; Nizhoni (Morningstar Angeline Wilson), who was adopted by white parents and spent most of her adolescence in faraway private schools; and Felixia (Carmen Moore), a pre-op transsexual living with her tradition-minded grandparents on the reservation are all seeking to understand how and where they fit into the world at large.

Robert Redford is the Executive Producer of Drunktown's Finest, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

Eating You Alive - Oct. 17, 19
Half of all adults in the U.S. struggle with chronic health conditions. Despite countless dollars spent on medical research and drugs to improve our health, more Americans are disabled and dying from chronic disease than ever before. Featuring leading medical experts and researchers, Eating You Alive takes a scientific look at the reasons we're so sick, who's responsible for feeding us the wrong information and how we can use whole-food, plant-based nutrition to take control of our health—one bite at a time.

Advocates for this nutritional wellness approach include James Cameron, Samuel L. Jackson and Penn Jillette as well as healthcare experts Doctors Dean Ornish, Neal Barnard and John McDougall. "Movies that Matter" marks the movie's theatrical debut.

Leaves of the Tree - Oct. 24, 26
Faith, science and the reality of miracles converge in Leaves of the Tree through an ancient tree purported to contain miraculous healing powers. An ailing patent attorney (Eric Roberts) is sidelined by a life threatening illness and travels to Sicily to discover an olive tree's medicinal secrets with his wife (Sean Young). Also appearing are Armand Assante and Federico Castelluccio. The movie has earned official selection status at more than 25 foreign and domestic festivals. Dove Foundation Family Approved.

Elephant Blues - Oct. 31 and Nov. 2
Elephant Blues is the true story of a 4-year-old girl who lives in a wild forest among elephants. This unique life is the creation of her mother, who has left a world of urbane sophistication and an academic life to seek her own cultural roots and idyllic setting for her young daughter's development, growth and learning. Beautifully shot in the exotic wilds of South India, Elephant Blues offers strong parallels with Indian mythology's Palakapya as well as the more familiar aspirational forces of Thoureau's Walden.

About Carmike Cinemas Alternative Programming and Distribution Division
Carmike's Alternative Programming and Distribution Division brings enhanced entertainment options to communities served by Carmike Cinemas including stage shows from Broadway and London, cultural events including opera and ballet, independent films, world cinema, sporting events and cutting-edge video gaming. More at www.carmike.com.

About DigiNext:
DigiNext is a worldwide, direct-to-consumer (DtoC) distributor and movie release platform showcasing today's most talented and passionate directors and producers of independent features and issue-based documentaries, providing them with unique and flexible ways to drive value and recognition of their work. DigiNext offers filmmakers domestic theatrical release, plus a targeted reach to worldwide audiences. Brands and marketers can also access pre-selected targeted audiences via DigiNext's end-to-end platform. DigiNext is a joint venture between Carmike Cinemas (NASDAQ: CKEC) and Nehst Out, creator of a content distribution system reaching 70+ countries via electronic sell-through including digital downstream, DVD and other ancillary revenue opportunities. More at www.diginextfilms.com.

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SOURCE Carmike Cinemas