The American Film Institute (AFI) announced that the world premiere of Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story has been selected as the Centerpiece Screening, a designation that speaks to the significance of the film as a pivotal part of the programming for AFI Fest 2023. The Amazon Studios and Bekele Films documentary, which is a tender, intimate portrait of the writer, actor, filmmaker, studio head and media mogul, will screen on Friday, October 27 at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles.
“Tyler Perry is a creative force of nature–a multi-hyphenate who forged his own path to seismic impact in the world of storytelling while also inspiring the next generation to follow in his footsteps,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “Maxine’s Baby is an epic celebration of a modern maverick, and it is AFI’s honor to shine a proper light upon Mr. Perry and the film at AFI Fest.”
In a joint statement, the film’s directors Gelila Bekele and Armani Ortiz shared, “We are honored to premiere Maxine’s Baby at AFI Fest. Working on this film for the past decade has been a life-changing journey for the both of us. Getting intimately acquainted with the man behind the icon while witnessing the transformative impact of Mr. Perry’s work within various communities has been truly awe-inspiring. We hope this film is more than a road to success story, but rather, a meditation on healing, unconditional love and an inspiration to audiences.”
