Cast Announced for Amnesty International's Secret Policeman's Ball; 35 of the World's Most Talented Entertainers Stand Up for Free Speech

NEW YORK, March 1, 2012  /PRNewswire/ -- Amnesty International today announced its line-up of 35 of the world's most talented comedians and musicians who will stand up for free speech and celebrate 50 years of Amnesty International at the upcoming Secret Policeman's Ball, March 4, 2012 at Radio City Music Hall.

Comedians and actors announced today include: Matt Berry, Jimmy Carr, Eddie Izzard, Taran Killam, Rex Lee, Bobby Moynihan, Liam Neeson, Chris O'Dowd, Jay Pharoah, Tim Roth and Burmese comedian Maung Thura Zarganar.

They join previously announced all-star American comedians Fred Armisen, Hannibal Buress, David Cross, Bill Hader, Rashida Jones, Seth Meyers, Bob Odenkirk, Paul Rudd, Andy Samberg, Sarah Silverman, Statler & Waldorf from Disney's The Muppets, Jon Stewart, Jason Sudeikis, Reggie Watts and Kristen Wiig, with British comics Russell Brand, Noel Fielding, Micky Flanagan, John Oliver, Peter Serafinowicz, Jack Whitehall and musical acts Coldplay and Mumford & Sons.

Also joining the cast is internationally celebrated Burmese comedian and director, Maung Thura Zarganar, who uses his talents to speak out about human rights abuses in Burma. In 2008, Zarganar led a movement that collected money and supplies for the victims of Cyclone Nargis. He also publicly criticized the government's response to the disaster. As a result he was given a 35-year prison sentence. On 12 October 2011, Zarganar was released from prison.

"Amnesty International's Secret Policeman's Ball is an opportunity to demonstrate to a new wired audience that the freedoms we enjoy every day - to post, tweet, blog and email - are under threat in every region of the world," said Suzanne Nossel, Amnesty International USA executive director. "New technologies have triggered new forms of repression of basic rights such as freedom of expression and assembly. It may sound far-fetched, but comedy is truly life-threatening in many places in the world, as it was for Zarganar in Burma. The best way to stand with those who are denied freedom of speech is to use our freedom to demand theirs."

All comedians and musicians performing on Sunday are standing up for free speech.

"It's good there is freedom of speech. This means I can say that I find Prince Charles sexually attractive and that the U.S. presidential elections are a meaningless spectacle to distract us from the mercantile skullduggery of the cabals that control our planet and no one can do anything about it. Thanks Amnesty," said Russell Brand.

Amnesty International also announced a limited inventory of production kill tickets will be released to the general public today at www.ticketmaster.com for the Ball at New York City's Radio City Music Hall Sunday, March 4, 2012.

In the U.S. EPIX, the Ball's exclusive US broadcast partner, will telecast the event LIVE and commercial free in the United States on Sunday, March 4 at 7PM ET/4PM PT/6PM CT. In addition, EPIX is offering the event free to all U.S. viewers by hosting the first-ever live stream of the charity event on EpixHD.com and across EPIX apps on Xbox and Roku.

Channel 4 will exclusively broadcast the show in the UK on Friday, 9th March at 10pm.

Amnesty International presents the Secret Policeman's Ball co-produced by Amnesty International, Control Room and Mother.

To find out more about the Secret Policeman's Ball visit www.facebook.com/secretpoliceman, and follow the Secret Policeman on Twitter at www.twitter.com/secretpoliceman hashtag #secretball.

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About Amnesty International

Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 3 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom and dignity are denied.

About The Secret Policeman's Ball

The Secret Policeman's Ball is a world famous comedy event, which celebrates freedom of expression with the very best within the arts and entertainment industry. Established in 1976, the Secret Policeman's Ball used anarchic humor to raise funds for the fight against human rights abuses. Returning to mark Amnesty International's 50th anniversary, the Secret Policeman's Ball this year is set to be bigger than ever as some of the world's best comedians and musicians team up for an evening of original, cutting edge entertainment.

About Free Speech

The Secret Policeman's Ball celebrates free speech – one of the first rights to be stifled by state authorities, which seek to repress its citizens. Free speech is a basic human right denied to thousands of people around the world. The Secret Policeman's Ball aims to celebrate this right through comedy and music.

About EPIX

EPIX, a joint venture between Viacom Inc., its Paramount Pictures unit, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Lionsgate, is a premium entertainment service available on television, video-on-demand, online and on consumer electronic devices. With access to more than 15,000 motion pictures spanning the vast libraries of its partners and other studios, EPIX provides a powerful entertainment experience with more feature films on demand and online and more HD movies than any other service. It is the only premium service providing its entire monthly line-up of new Hollywood hits, classic feature films, documentaries and original concerts, comedy and sporting events on all platforms. EPIX has made the commitment to deliver the industry's most expansive online collection of movies, making more than 3,000 titles available to authenticated subscribers on EpixHD.com and on hundreds of devices including Xbox 360 consoles, Android™ tablets and mobile phones, Roku® players, Samsung® Smart TVs and Blu-ray™ players and more. EPIX is available to over 30 million homes nationwide through distribution partners including Charter Communications, Cox Communications, DISH Network, Mediacom Communications, NCTC, Suddenlink Communications and Verizon FiOS.

For more information about EPIX, go to www.EpixHD.com. Follow EPIX on Twitter @EpixHD and on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/EpixHD.

SOURCE Amnesty International