Impact Film Festival Announces Slate at This Summer's Democratic and Republican National Conventions

Impact Film Festival Announces Slate at This Summer's Democratic and Republican National Conventions

Fair Trade, The National Debt, Stem Cell Research, Homelessness, Hurricane Katrina among topical issues in Selected Documentary and Narrative Films

Charlize Theron (BATTLE IN SEATTLE) and Elvis Mitchell (THE BLACK LIST) Among Attending Filmmakers and Cast

WASHINGTON, July 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Impact Film Festival announced today its slate of films set to screen for lawmakers, candidates and delegates at the national political conventions. Each film will have a panel discussion featuring members of the filmmaking community alongside policy makers and other issue experts during the daytime hours of the convention, for lively and important discussions. The Festival was programmed by top festival programmers and industry visionaries including programmers from Toronto, Sundance, Tribeca, Los Angeles Film Festival, Full Frame and IFP among others. Key acquisition executives from POV, Netflix/Red Envelope and HBO also participated on the programming committee.

"This Festival was born from the idea that the artistry and urgency reflected in these films could have a real impact on political discourse," said Jody Arlington, one of the Festival's three co-founders. "Our tagline is: 'Where Film Crosses the Aisle.' We're certain these films will rally leaders and citizens attending both conventions to engage in nuanced discussions about the domestic and international priorities explored in these exceptional films."

The Impact Film Festival is presented by Starz, which is hosting the Starz Green Room, a gathering place for convention attendees and the media with panels, topical films and a VIP lounge. In addition to the feature films, IFF will show shorts from the Denver Film Society and Denver Office of Cultural Affairs, "Cinemocracy" online film contest, seeking films defining the meaning of democracy. More info at www.cinemocracy.org. IFF will also show winners from the 2008 "FYI-Film Your Issue" online film contest. FYI-Film Your Issue is a two minute online film contest for young people age 14-24 to make films on issues most important to them. More info at www.filmyourissue.com.

IMPACT FILM FESTIVAL SLATE:

ACCIDENTAL ADVOCATE (DNC/RNC) / Director: Jessica Gerstle -- A moving odyssey of a father and daughter who track down the thinkers, politicians, crusaders and nay-sayers at the heart of the federally-funded stem cell research quagmire. World Premiere.

BATTLE IN SEATTLE (DNC/RNC) / Director: Stuart Townsend-Chronicle of the dramatic events surrounding the 1999 World Trade Organization meetings in Seattle, Washington, featuring Charlize Theron (in attendance).

BLACK LIST (DNC/RNC) / Directors: Timothy Greenfield-Sanders and Elvis Mitchell -- Dramatic portraits of some of today's most fascinating and influential African-Americans. Famed Elvis Mitchell joins our discussion for an in-depth conversation about reclaiming "The Blacklist."

BOOGIE MAN: THE LEE ATWATER STORY (DNC/RNC) / Director: Stefan Forbes -- The life and controversial times of Lee Atwater, the late political strategist for the Republican Party.

FLOW: FOR LOVE OF WATER (DNC/RNC) / Director: Irena Salinas-While oil grabs headlines, the world's most important commodity is water. This compelling documentary examines what we are all taking for granted -- and shouldn't.

FREEHELD (DNC) /Director: Cynthia Wade -- The community unites to support police detective Laurel Hester's struggle to transfer her earned pension over to her domestic partner in this Academy-Award winning short film.

I.O.U.S.A. (DNC/RNC) / Director: Patrick Creadon -- A bold examination of the rapidly growing national debt and its consequences for the United States and its citizens, brought to you by the director of WORDPLAY.

KICKING IT (DNC) / Directors: Susan Koch and Jeff Werner -- For those who live on the sidelines of life, Director Susan Koch trains her camera on what happens when the homeless grab the ball and get in the game at the Homeless World Cup.

ROBERT KENNEDY REMEMBERED (DNC) / Director: Charles Guggenheim -- Iconic portrait of Bobby Kennedy who gave voice to the aspirations of a generation and who continues to inspire with his message of hope and commitment to social justice. The film was originally presented at the 1968 Democratic Convention forty years ago.

TROUBLE THE WATER (DNC/RNC) / Directors: Tia Lessin and Carl Deal-2008 Sundance award-winner about poverty in America as seen through the eyes of a couple trapped in New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina.

14 WOMEN (DNC/RNC) / Director: Mary Lambert-Narrated by Annette Bening, this film follows female Senators such as Barbara Boxer, Hillary Clinton, Elizabeth Dole and Blanche Lincoln in the Capitol, on the road, on the campaign trail and even in their kitchen, exploring the issues, advantages and disadvantages of being a female politician in today's political climate. (Co-presented with The White House Project at the RNC).

At the Democratic Convention, the films will screen at the Starz FilmCenter in Denver, Colorado, August 25-28 as part of the Starz Green Room, at 900 Auraria Parkway, across from the Pepsi Center in Tivoli Center. At the Republican Convention, the films will screen at the Landmark Center in Minneapolis, St. Paul September 1-4, at 75 W. 5th Street, directly across from the Excel Center. In addition to the day-time screenings, Impact Film Festival is hosting late night parties celebrating the filmmakers and saluting the Screen Actors Guild. For More information on screen times and ticketing, visit impactfilmfestival.org.

The Festival is led by Jody Arlington, Festival Director; Jamie Shor, PR Director; Kimball Stroud, Development Director; Rachel Goslins, Programming Director and Laura Sullivan, Festival Producer.

The Impact Film Festival is a program of The Impact Film Fund, a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization founded in 2008 by Jody Arlington, Jamie Shor and Kimball Stroud, three veterans of the Washington political and film arena. Our mission is to celebrate and elevate the diversity and power of documentary and narrative storytelling to engage nuanced conversation about the issues of the day and increase cinema's impact. For more information and Festival updates please visit our website at www.impactfilmfestival.org

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Impact Film Festival

CONTACT: Jamie Shor for the Impact Film Festival, +1-301-437-1533,
jamie@impactfilmfestival.org

Web site: http://www.impactfilmfestival.org/

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