Moore fest defies distrib over 'Jesus'
'Jesus' dispute
Aug 4, 2006
Ignoring a request to remove the documentary "Jesus Camp" from its lineup, the Traverse City Film Festival, which Michael Moore oversees as president and artistic director, went ahead Friday with the first of two screenings of the film.
After Magnolia Films acquired North American distribution rights to the film last week, Magnolia president Eamonn Bowles asked the fest to drop the film. The documentary, directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, looks at a summer camp for born-again Christian children and has won top jury awards at this year's Tribeca Film Festival and AFI SilverDocs Film Festival.
In a statement issued Friday, Moore called Magnolia's request "truly one of the worst publicity stunts I have ever seen."
Because the film presents the material in a manner that is considered by many who have seen it as fair and objective, Bowles considers it "a Rorshach test. It's very neutral, right down the middle, and different people take away different things from it."
He plans to release "Jesus" in more conservative Christian markets where art films aren't commonly shown, in addition to the indie company's traditional art house venues. But he is concerned that screening the film at the Moore-sponsored festival, which runs through Sunday in Traverse City, Mich., could damage its reputation in conservative circles, where Moore is a polarizing figure. "The reality of the world we live in today is that if Michael Moore endorses it, tens of millions will automatically reject it," Bowles said.
The film's producers originally gave the fest permission to screen the film several weeks ago, before Magnolia became involved. Magnolia sent a formal letter to the festival Thursday asking that it cancel its scheduled screenings but did not hear back from anyone associated with the fest, Bowles said late Thursday.
But Moore countered, "I had no intention of showing 'Jesus Camp' in this festival. The producers begged me to show it. I said OK. Then they sent me the film this week to show it in the festival. (Then), one day before its screening, after all its tickets have been sold, they sent me and the press a fax saying they want the film pulled."
A second screening is scheduled for Saturday.
After Magnolia Films acquired North American distribution rights to the film last week, Magnolia president Eamonn Bowles asked the fest to drop the film. The documentary, directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, looks at a summer camp for born-again Christian children and has won top jury awards at this year's Tribeca Film Festival and AFI SilverDocs Film Festival.
In a statement issued Friday, Moore called Magnolia's request "truly one of the worst publicity stunts I have ever seen."
Because the film presents the material in a manner that is considered by many who have seen it as fair and objective, Bowles considers it "a Rorshach test. It's very neutral, right down the middle, and different people take away different things from it."
He plans to release "Jesus" in more conservative Christian markets where art films aren't commonly shown, in addition to the indie company's traditional art house venues. But he is concerned that screening the film at the Moore-sponsored festival, which runs through Sunday in Traverse City, Mich., could damage its reputation in conservative circles, where Moore is a polarizing figure. "The reality of the world we live in today is that if Michael Moore endorses it, tens of millions will automatically reject it," Bowles said.
The film's producers originally gave the fest permission to screen the film several weeks ago, before Magnolia became involved. Magnolia sent a formal letter to the festival Thursday asking that it cancel its scheduled screenings but did not hear back from anyone associated with the fest, Bowles said late Thursday.
But Moore countered, "I had no intention of showing 'Jesus Camp' in this festival. The producers begged me to show it. I said OK. Then they sent me the film this week to show it in the festival. (Then), one day before its screening, after all its tickets have been sold, they sent me and the press a fax saying they want the film pulled."
A second screening is scheduled for Saturday.
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