'Selma' team join Martin Luther King Day march

Los Angeles: Oprah Winfrey and the team behind the film 'Selma' took their star power to Alabama to honour Martin Luther King Jr.

Winfrey, the film's director Ava DuVernay, its cast-members David Oyelowo and Common, and the producers behind the movie joined local residents in the city of Selma for a massive march, reportedly.

Local television station WSFA tweeted a photo as the gathering got underway that showed Winfrey, city officials and musicians John Legend and Common, who wrote and performed the film's Oscar-nominated song 'Glory'.

DuVernay tweeted: "Such a joy, a privilege, an honour to be in the city of Selma today with my parents, my siblings and my #SelmaFilm family. Onward!"

The hours-long event, ahead of MLK Day, started with a Q&A with the cast and filmmakers at Selma High School.

The critically acclaimed drama focuses on the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery marches demanding voting rights for blacks. Some of the marches were led by the iconic civil rights leader, played in the movie by David Oyelowo. Winfrey is a producer on the film and portrays civil rights activist Annie Lee Cooper.

The march came after Oscar nominations which saw the film receive nods for best picture and best original song. However, Oyelowo and DuVernay did not receive Oscar nods, raising eyebrows among critics of the Academy, including director Spike Lee.

At one time considered a top contender heading into awards season, 'Selma' has had a rough run recently, and controversy surrounding the film may have hurt its chances with Oscar voters.

Historians put the filmmakers on the defensive after questions about its accuracy surfaced regarding the relationship between King and President Lyndon B Johnson.

Despite the controversy, President Obama screened the film at the White House on Friday and was joined by the cast and crew.

Free screenings of 'Selma' are also being offered to more than 275,000 middle school and high school students across the country in select cities including Selma, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Nashville, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Sarasota, FL, Washington DC and more.