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SUNDANCE SELECTS ACQUIRES WORLDWIDE RIGHTS TO AJ SCHNACK’S “CONVENTION,” A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT THE
2008 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION
ACCLAIMED ENSEMBLE DOCUMENTARY PREMIERED AT THE
2009 AFI SILVERDOCS AND LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL
“CONVENTION” OPENS NATIONWIDE THEATRICALLY IN SELECT CITIES AND ON-DEMAND MAY 12th
New York, NY – April 5, 2010 – Sundance Selects today announced the acquisition of worldwide rights to AJ Schnack’s CONVENTION, an ensemble documentary shot during the historic 2008
Democratic National Convention in Denver. Working with acclaimed filmmakers Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert (2007 Emmy Winner A LION IN THE HOUSE, 2010 Oscar nominee THE LAST TRUCK: CLOSING OF A GM PLANT), Laura Poitras (2007 Oscar nominee MY COUNTRY, MY COUNTRY and THE OATH), Paul Taylor (WE ARE TOGETHER) and Daniel Junge (THEY KILLED SISTER DOROTHY and 2010 Oscar nominee THE LAST CAMPAIGN OF GOVERNOR BOOTH GARDNER), the film is a behind-the-scenes look at Denver’s efforts in hosting the historic event. CONVENTION premiered at the 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival and at AFI Silverdocs, where its world premiere was the festival’s Gala Centerpiece Screening.
CONVENTION is the third nonfiction feature by filmmaker AJ Schnack. His previous films are the Independent Spirit Award nominated KURT COBAIN ABOUT A SON (2006) and GIGANTIC (A TALE OF TWO JOHNS) (2002). Schnack is also the author and editor of the popular nonfiction film blog “All these wonderful things” (http://edendale.typepad.com), which he began in 2005 and which is perhaps the most widely read resource for nonfiction filmmaking online.
Lizzie Nastro negotiated the deal on behalf of Sundance Selects with Andrew Herwitz from The Film Sales Company. CONVENTION is being release nationwide on-demand beginning May 12th, and will also play in select cities including New York (IFC CENTER – June 4th) and Denver (STARZ FILM CENTER – June 11th) with additional play dates to be announced.
Filmed during the historic 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, CONVENTION focuses on the efforts of local Denver citizens as they host, report on and protest the massive event. In this breathtaking documentary, a team of uniquely talented cinematographers, producers, and directors, led by accomplished documentary filmmaker AJ Schnack, assemble together in an unprecedented effort to cover the behind the scenes perspectives of this landmark moment in our country’s history. Through the intertwining stories of several protesters, reporters from the Denver Post, the Mayor of Denver and his staff, the convention planners, protest groups and many more, CONVENTION delivers a complex, beautiful and completely unique portrayal of this historic event. CONVENTION was produced by Jennifer Chikes, Britta Erickson, Shirley Moyers, AJ Schnack and Nathan Truesdell. It was filmed by Steven Bognar, Daniel Junge, Laura Poitras, Julia Reichert, Wayne Robbins, AJ Schnack, Paul Taylor, Nathan Truesdell and David Wilson.
On behalf of Sundance Selects Jonathan Sehring said: “This is an extremely well made and entertaining documentary of a historic event that will delight anyone with even a remote interest in national politics. We are thrilled to be working with AJ and the all-star team of directors he has assembled. We think this is a great film for all our platforms.”
AJ Schnack commented, “Having the opportunity to work closely with some of my favorite filmmakers during the historic convention week was tremendously inspiring. I’m very excited about our new partnership with Sundance Selects and am glad that viewers of all political stripes will soon have a chance to see the film.”
CONVENTION is Rainbow Media’s latest acquisition for Sundance Selects, the transactional video-on-demand film label for documentaries and world cinema, which launched last year with the release of Spike Lee’s acclaimed film, PASSING STRANGE: THE MOVIE. Sundance Selects releases are available on the on-demand platform of major cable operators, with select titles also receiving theatrical distribution. Other acclaimed recent Sundance Selects releases include Don Argott’s controversial documentary THE ART OF THE STEAL from the 2009 Toronto Film Festival; Academy Award-winner Adam Elliot’s animated film MARY AND MAX, which opened the 2009 Sundance Film Festival; Chris Wiatt’s documentary A COMPLETE HISTORY OF MY SEXUAL FAILURES; Kief Davidson’s acclaimed documentary KASSIM THE DREAM, which premiered at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival; and Tom Thurman’s documentary NICK NOLTE: NO EXIT.
About AJ Schnack
CONVENTION is the third nonfiction feature by filmmaker AJ Schnack. His previous films include “Kurt Cobain About A Son “(2006), for which he was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award and received the inaugural Cinematic Vision Award at AFI Silverdocs, and “Gigantic (A Tale Of Two Johns)” (2002). Both films were released theatrically and on DVD in North America and were broadcast in the US on the Sundance Channel. “About A Son” premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, was released theatrically in France and Japan and aired in the UK on More 4’s True Stories.
Schnack is the author and editor of the popular nonfiction film blog “All these wonderful things” (http://edendale.typepad.com), which he began in 2005 and which is perhaps the most widely read resource for nonfiction filmmaking online. He is the founder and co-chair of the Cinema Eye Honors for Nonfiction Filmmaking, held annually in January at the Times Center in New York City.
