(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- Michael Franti will perform on Friday, April 27 at 7:30pm at the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park, NJ during the Asbury Park Music & Film Festival (APMFF).  The performance will follow the world premiere screening of Franti’s documentary Stay Human along with a panel discussion focusing on the film.

In Stay Human, Michael Franti reflects on his own personal journey facing adversity as a child, struggling to find his voice as a musician, and how he came to find inspiration through six stories of extraordinary changemakers from the Philippines to South Africa. Through these stories, he hopes to inspire people to become changemakers by utilizing creativity, tenacity, and heart to face our daily challenges as individuals, and together as citizens of our planet to STAY HUMAN.

In a quest to find a path to STAY HUMAN and hold on to humanity in the craziness of the world we live in today, Franti takes us on an experiential journey through his songs and stories of people who have chosen to overcome cynicism with optimism and hope. Franti shares the tales of Robin Lim, a midwife who opened a birthing clinic in the aftermath of a devastating typhoon in the Philippines, Steve & Hope Dezember, a young couple whose love carries them through Steve’s battle with ALS, Arief Rabik, an environmental scientist in Bali who perfected a method to make industrial and household products with bamboo in an effort to curb deforestation, and Sive Mazinyo and Busisiwwe Vazi, who help inspire their community of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, through music and education. He hopes to inspire people to become changemakers by utilizing creativity, tenacity, and heart to face our daily challenges as individuals, and together as citizens of our planet to STAY HUMAN.

“We are thrilled to have Michael Franti joining us at the APMFF and to be hosting the world premiere of Stay Human,” said Peter Hurley, Executive Director.  “Michael has been inspiring people around the world and the stories showcased in this film are extremely powerful.” 

Besides Franti, also being added to the APMFF lineup are Dentist, who will be appearing with Beams and Sharkmuffin.  The APMFF also features An Evening with Danny DeVito, an intimate evening at the Paramount Theatre onSaturday April 28 featuring video vignettes and stories from DeVito’s illustrious career, integrated with discussion, a Q&A session and other special presentations. Performances from Sublime with Rome at Convention Hall, also on April 28, and Gov’t Mule at the Paramount Theatre on April 29, highlight the musical program.

All schedule, venue and ticket / pass information is available at www.apmff.org.

The Asbury Park Music & Film Festival has welcomed a variety of world-class music, film and panel discussions to its stages and screens. Highlights have included a jam session featuring Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Van Zandt, Southside Johnny and others in support of the documentary Just Before The Dawn about the history of the famed Upstage Club;  Q&A sessions with award-winning actor and director Don Cheadle around the NJ film premiere of Miles Ahead;exclusive Bob Dylan archival footage; performances from Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Robert Trujillo (Metallica), Gene Cornish (The Rascals), Colin Hay (Men At Work), Brian Fallon (Gaslight Anthem) and Robert Randolph; panel discussions with industry leaders Tom Bernard (Sony Pictures Classics), Adam Block (Sony Legacy Recordings) and photographer and director Danny Clinch.