Washington D.C. — SnagFilms announced today the launch of “Snag the Vote 2012,” an unprecedented, free, online film festival running through Election Day, featuring over 100 documentaries chosen to illuminate 10 key issues defining the 2012 Presidential election, at http://www.snagthevote.com. The festival includes October digital premieres of 10 major films, using Snag Social Screening ™ technology to connect viewers directly with one another and to the filmmakers and relevant experts.
“The recent naming of a Republican Vice Presidential nominee led both campaigns to declare this to be an election about ideas – and like every American, we hope so,” said Rick Allen, CEO of SnagFilms. “Snag the Vote 2012 brings the election’s big issues to life in the most compelling and thoughtful way – with great films from noted directors.”
The films selected for the festival explore the issues that pop in political polls across the country: Economy and Jobs, Health Care, Immigration, the Environment, Foreign Affairs, Energy, National Security, Education, Civil Liberties, and the political process.
“We invite Americans to ‘view before you vote’, courtesy of SnagFilms,” Allen said. “You may agree or disagree with each of these 100 films, but after watching, you’ll come away more informed and engaged. We believe smart films make for smarter politics.”
Reinforcing the unique role of artists and citizens in the political process, renowned artist Shepard Fairey, whose 2008 “Hope” poster was the defining image of that election, has created six graphic works to celebrate Snag the Vote 2012, utilizing images inspired by Let Fury Have the Hour, an Antonino D’Ambrosio film that is one of the premiere presentations in Snag the Vote. All six Shepard Fairey images are viewable at http://www.snagfilms.com/Fairey.
The online film festival launches with the first of a series of several special film premieres: The After Party, a star-studded documentary arising out of the 2004 Republican National Convention, which led to a landmark First Amendment case. The film’s Social Screening ™ debut is August 23. On the 25th, a series of films (“Red State Rialto”), debuts, coinciding with the Republican National Convention. This series will explore the core issues as seen through the partisan eyes of the Republican Party faithful, with fresh films premiering each day of the Convention.
Democrats get their turn the following week with the “Demo Docs” series, presenting films about and for their Party faithful, beginning Saturday, September 1, to coincide with the Democratic National Convention. The “Demo Docs” series opens with Becoming Barack, a unique examination of the roots and rise of America’s first black President.
All films in the “Snag the Vote 2012” Film Festival are presented free online at snagfilms.com, and select films from the series will be available through SnagFilms distribution partners. (Premiere titles summarized below.)
In addition to these exciting films, the “Snag the Vote 2012” website will be programmed fresh every day with original commentary, buzz-worthy journalism from across the political spectrum, polling research, and related video clips from news outlets and third-party media. Anthony Kaufman, editor of Indiewire Blog Network’s ReelPolitik, will contribute original commentary throughout the 12-week event.
More than 1800 arrests were made during protests around the Republican National Convention in New York City, among them a film crew. The After Party has appearances by Andre ‘3000’, Barack Obama, twins Jenna and Barbara Pierce Bush, Hillary Clinton, and Al Sharpton – and a warrantless police spying operation uncovered by the civil rights law suit that resulted from the crew’s arrest. The film examines the thin line between security and freedom in an era of domestic surveillance, and premieres August 23.
With the Economy leading national polls as voters’ primary concern, it is no wonder that Heist: Who Stole the American Dream? is stunning worldwide audiences. An expose of the complex story behind the worldwide economic collapse, “Heist,” writes the New York Times, “has the virtue of taking the long view of a crisis that recent films like ‘Inside Job’ and ‘Too Big to Fail’ have only sketchily explored. It makes a strong case that government regulation is essential for democracy to flourish.” The film comes from its theatrical run to premiere in a Snag Social Screening™ in October.
The key issue of National Security is headlined by “S.O.S. State of Security,” featuring former counter terrorism czar Richard Clarke, who famously warned the Bush Administration about the dangers of Al Qaeda, and yet took responsibility for not preventing the attack on 9/11. Michele Ohayon’s film explores current threats to American democracy and assesses our readiness to thwart attacks in the future. “S.O.S.: State of Security” premieres in a Snag Social Screening™ in October.
“Harvest of Empire,” based on journalist Juan Gonzalez’ book of the same name, connects the history of U.S. foreign policy in Latin America to the immigration crisis now faced by the United States. “Harvest of Empire” reconstructs an under-reported foreign affairs story that has more impact on the lives of border-state Americans than many of the conflicts frequently in the headlines from elsewhere in the world. “Harvest of Empire” premieres in a Snag Social Screening™ in October.
SnagFilms is founded on the belief that art is part of the political process. That’s why we’re proud to feature the first release of Tribeca Film Festival and critical-favorite “Let Fury Have the Hour” as a part of “Snag the Vote 2012.” This film, written and directed by author and artist Antonino D’Ambrosio, chronicles how a generation of visual artists, musicians, writers, and activists used “creative response” to foment social change and activate youth participation in the politics. “Let Fury Have the Hour” features Eve Ensler, Chuck D, John Sayles, Billy Bragg, Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello and Shepard Fairey. The film’s Snag Social Screening™ is in October.
About SnagFilms
SnagFilms features free, sponsor-supported, on demand viewing of more than 3,300 award-winning, fiction and non-fiction titles from some of the greatest names in film. SnagFilms’ curated collection is viewed on its own site and a digital network of more than 110,000 affiliated sites and webpages worldwide, including partners such as Comcast’s Xfinity, Hulu, the Starbucks Digital Network, IMDb, hundreds of non-profits, special interest sites and blogs — and via its applications for tablets, including Apple’s iPad (AirPlay-enabled), Amazon’s Kindle Fire, Blackberry Playbook and other Android-based tablets; Android smartphones; OTT platforms Roku, Boxee and Western Digital; connected TVs and blu-ray players from Sony, Panasonic, LG and Vizio, and soon to launch on connected TVs and blu-ray players from Samsung. SnagFilms’ titles have been featured on more than 3.5 billion pageviews across its network.
SnagFilms also offers selected titles via pay video on demand with Comcast, iN Demand (including Time Warner Cable, Cox and Bright House Networks), Verizon’s FiOS and DIRECTV, as well as on iTunes, Hulu Plus, Amazon, VUDU, Xbox Live, Google Play, YouTube Movies, and will soon be launching on DISH Network and Samsung Media Hub. SnagFilms was named one of the fastest growing technology companies in Washington, DC area. Gizmodo has named SnagFilms as a “Best iPad App,” OVGuide has twice named SnagFilms a Top Site, and MovieMaker Magazine named SnagFilms to its annual list of “50 Best Websites for Moviemakers.” The SnagFilms family also includes Indiewire, for more than 15 years the web’s top source of news, reviews and information about independent film – and winner of the 2012 Webby Award as the top film and movie site.
Contact
SNAGFILMS
Gary Hahn
202.285.1356
gary@snagfilms.com
