After 5 years of dedication, hard work, and an incredible journey with Africa’s most influential and talented artist of all time, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi ’s documentary, “Youssou N’dour: I Bring What I Love”, opens in theaters in New York city on June 12th, 2009.

Chai, a Princeton graduate in comparative literature, is the American director and producer behind the documentary that retraces the daily life of N’dour throughout a 2 year period in Africa, Europe, the United States, and the Middle East,  following his controversial Grammy award winning album “Egypt”, which brought a lot of criticism and rejection in his native country, Senegal, due to his release and performances during the holy month of Ramadan.

N’dour, an advocate for human rights and an inspiration to millions of fans, is a devout Sufi Muslim. He has, through the music of his album, “Egypt”, and through concerts and events, shown and promoted a more tolerant and peaceful face of Islam. Chai accompanied him in this mission to tell his story, the challenges he faced, and his victory winning audiences both at home and abroad.

The film has won awards including the Special Jury Prize at the Middle East International Film Festival and the Audience Award at the Sao Paulo and Bahamas International Film Festival. It has also been featured as the official selection at the Toronto and Telluride Film Festival.

Please come, join and support this amazing singer who has collaborated with celebrities including Bono, Peter Gabriel, and Neneh Cherry, and has been named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World.  This is the first feature-length documentary film of this talented director andthe opening weekend of the film in New York city is from June 12th to June 14th 2009.

The film will be played in Manhattan, at the Paris theater and the IFC Center and in Brooklyn at the BAM Rose cinemas. Tickets sales will start on June 8th. Later in the summer, the film will rool out to more cities. For more information, visit the official website.