AMC Entertainment and Lionsgate are keeping 'Akeelah and the Bee' F-R-E-E to U.S. Teachers.

WHAT: With teachers swarming their local AMC theatres this past weekend and Akeelah and the Bee holding strong in the top ten, AMC Entertainment and Lionsgate are extending the offer for every teacher in the United States to receive one free ticket to the film Friday, May 19 through Thursday, May 25, 2006. The offer is valid exclusively at all theatres in the AMC system including: Loews Theatres, Star Theatres and Magic Johnson Theatres.

WHEN: Friday, May 19 thru Thursday, May 25, 2006 Simply present a school issued ID card and a valid photo ID or a pay stub and a valid photo ID to your local AMC theatre playing the film.

(Check local listings for participating theatres.)

WHY: In an effort to reward teachers at the end of the school year for their hard work and encourage them to see the inspiring education-themed movie Akeelah and the Bee, AMC Entertainment and Lionsgate are extending the unprecedented offer for every teacher in the United States to receive one free ticket to the film.

A motivating drama, Akeelah and the Bee is the story of Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer), a precocious eleven-year-old girl from south Los Angeles with a gift for words. Despite the objections of her mother Tanya (Angela Bassett), Akeelah enters various spelling contests, for which she is tutored by the forthright Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne); her principal Mr. Welch (Curtis Armstrong) and the proud residents of her neighborhood. Akeelah's aptitude earns her an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee and in turn unites her neighborhood who witness the courage and inspiration of one amazing little girl.