Lost concert film with the Police and U2 to screen June 14 in Hollywood
06:28 PM PT, Jun 2 2009

A film long thought lost documenting Amnesty International’s 1986 “A Conspiracy of Hope” concert that featured the Police, U2, Peter Gabriel, Jackson Browne, Miles Davisand others will be screened in its 11-hour entirety June 14 in Hollywood. The rarity will be the showcase jewel of a five-week film festival saluting the 30th anniversary of the international human rights organization’s music and comedy concerts.

The Secret Policeman’s Film Festival marathon screening marks the first time the concert has been seen since it aired live 23 years ago on MTV. It will screen from noon to 11 p.m. at the Egyptian Theatre as one of the marquee events in this edition of the American Cinematheque’s ongoing Mods & Rockers Film Festival.

Other acts who participated include Lou Reed, Joni Mitchell, Yoko Ono, Carlos Santana, Joan Baez, Steven Van Zandt, Bryan Adams, Ruben Blades and Bob Geldof. The Police’s performance was the trio’s first in four years.

The event aired live, but contractual stipulations precluded it from being repeated or issued on home video.

The tapes were scattered and stored in different locations; some were presumed lost. When all the tapes were found, some were in poor shape and had to be restored, according to Martin Lewis, organizer of the Mods & Rockers Festival.

The Secret Policeman's Film Festival runs June 11 to July 19 in Los Angeles and will be repeated June 26 to July 31 in New York City. Full schedule information is available at the festival’s website.

--Randy Lewis

latimes