Madonna's Secret Film to Launch Global Free Speech Initative

Barely 24 hours after briefly alluding to work on a secret project during an Ask Me Anything session on social news website Reddit, Madonna revealed Tuesday the release of her short film, "secretprojectrevolution," which will debut online on Sept. 24 and mark the launch of Art for Freedom: an open digital forum created by the singer in collaboration with BitTorrent and Vice Media, whose aim is to address issues of persecution and foster free speech around the world through artistic expression.

According to Bittorent's Blog, "secretprojectrevolution," co-directed by Steven Klein, is a hard lens on human rights, circa 2013. The 17-minute film will go live on Sept. 24 on BitTorrent; launching Art For Freedom, which according to the Hollywood Reporter, "will encourage others to submit video, music, poetry and photography that addresses persecution around the world and the personal meaning of freedom and revolution."

"My goal is to show by the example of 'secretprojectrevolution' my creative commitment to inspire change in the world through artistic expression," Madonna said in a statement. "I hope my film and other submissions to Art for Freedom will be a call to action and give people a place to voice their own creative expression to help fight oppression, intolerance and complacency."

Created by Madonna as a public art project, the goal of the Art for Freedom project is to promote free speech as a way to address persecution and injustice around the world. Curated by Vice Media, public submissions in the form of video, music, poetry and photography will be welcomed once the project launches, and can be uploaded to the Art for Freedom platform or tagged #artforfreedom.

"Madonna is making a bold move, putting herself out there to support those suffering under repressive regimes around the world," says Vice Media's chief creative officer Eddy Moretti. "Art for Freedom comes from a place of real empathy and emotion. It's a reflection of a world in crisis by an artist who has decided that apathy is not an option. In one discussion, Madonna told me that she wanted to start a 'revolution of love.' How can you argue with that?"

For more information visit the Art for Freedom website.