DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Spike Lee's "Passing Strange" will open the 2009 Downtown Film Festival August 12th, at 7:30pm, at the AT&T Center Theater.

It's the Los Angeles premiere for the film based on the Tony-winning Broadway musical, a semi-autobiographical story of L.A. musician Stew who founded alt-band The Negro Problem.

Stew, sometimes known as Mark Stewart, is himself the African American indie rock star not raised on the mean streets of L.A, who, after some time with punk music, traveled and found bohemianism while in Amsterdam and Berlin.

Book and lyrics by are by Stew, and music was written in collaboration with The Negro Problem's bass player, Pomona-born Heidi Rodewald. Lee filmed "Passing Strange" with a live audience during the matinee and evening performances on a Saturday, back in July of 2008. In the play and film, Stew's character is known simply as Narrator.

The showing will also be one of the few chances to see the film on a large screen. "Passing Strange" is slated to be released on cable, and PBS.

Downtown Film Festival