Date

Apr 12 - 18 2024
Expired!

BAD PRESS

When the Muscogee Nation suddenly begins censoring their free press, a rogue reporter fights to expose her government’s corruption in a historic battle that will have ramifications for all of Indian Country. 

Producer Tyler Graim will join the audience for a Q&A following the 7:30 p.m. screening of BAD PRESS on Friday, April 12. Presented by Friends of The Ross and the Norman A. Geske Cinema Showcase.

SHOWTIMES

APR 12 | FRI

7:30 p.m.

APR 13 | SAT

12:40, 5:00 p.m.

APR 14 | SUN

2:50, 7:10 p.m.

APR 15 | MON

5:00 p.m.

APR 16 | TUE

7:10 p.m.

APR 17 | WED

5:00 p.m.

APR 18 | THU

7:10 p.m.
SYNOPSIS

Imagine you lived in a world where your only reliable news source became government propaganda overnight. That’s exactly what happened to the citizens of the Muscogee Nation, the fourth largest Native American tribe, in 2018. Out of 574 federally recognized tribes, the Muscogee Nation was one of only five to establish a free and independent press – until the tribe’s legislative branch abruptly repealed the landmark Free Press Act in advance of an election. The tribe’s hard-hitting news outlet, Mvskoke Media, would now be subject to direct editorial oversight by the tribal government.

One defiant journalist refuses to accept this flagrant act of oppression. As brave as she is blunt, veracious muckraker Angel Ellis charges headfirst into battle against the corrupt faction of the Muscogee National Council. Angel and her allies rally for press freedoms by inciting a voter-supported constitutional amendment, just in time for the start of a new election cycle.

An enthralling, edge-of-your-seat nail biter that unfurls with the energy and suspense of a political thriller, BAD PRESS is a timely and unprecedented story about the battle for freedom of the press and against state-censored media.

Visit Movie Website

Director

Rebecca Landsberry-Baker (Muscogee Creek) & Joe Peeler

WITH
Angel Ellis, Jerrad Moore, Jason Salsman
Run Time

1 hour, 38 minutes

Released
October 27, 2023
Distributed by
Context Moves
HEARING AND VISUAL ASSISTANCE

Assisted Listening
Additional options TBA

Country

United States

SUBTITLES

None

NOT RATED

Many of the films shown at The Ross are not rated due to the prohibitive cost of acquiring a rating from the Motion Picture Association of America. Consequently, as many of these films contain graphic content, viewer discretion is advised.

REVIEWS

“Capture(s)—several times—that pit in your stomach feeling that occurs when you’re watching the votes roll in for an election that has steep ramifications depending on its outcome.”

Marya E. Gates

RogerEbert.com

“The perfect illustration of what happens when you dismantle the Fourth and Fifth Estates and wind up putting democracy in peril, and it’s something everyone in America should be worried about right now.”

Jordan Mintzer

Hollywood Reporter

“Landsberry-Baker and Peeler could linger more on details about the people involved instead of the horse-race suspense of vote counts. But who can blame them when freedom is in the balance…”

Nicolas Rapold

New York Times

The event is finished.