Congresswoman McKinney at Deep Focus Festival closing

Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney joins the director of American Blackout for the closing night of the alive! Deep Focus Film Festival

Organizers of the second annual alive! Deep Focus Film Festival, Columbus’ own festival of great independent film, are happy to announce that Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney will be a guest at the festival’s closing night screening of American Blackout. She’ll join a previously announced guest, director Ian Inaba, in introducing the film to Columbus audiences and answering questions after the screening.

Inaba’s stylish documentary, an award winner at the Sundance, Cleveland and Boston Independent Film Festivals, examines alleged instances of voter disenfranchisement in local and national elections, including the events of Election Day 2004 in central Ohio. McKinney’s experience of losing and reclaiming her Congressional seat is also featured prominently.

This part of the film led Sura Wood to write in The Hollywood Reporter, “One of the beauties of American Blackout is that even if viewers don’t share her politics, what was done to McKinney in an effort to unseat her is so mean spirited and unfair, it would be

“Congresswoman McKinney was at the screening of American Blackout I attended at Sundance,” stated festival program director Melissa Starker. “After the film, the audience swarmed around her with praise and good wishes. There was a wonderful energy and excitement there, and given Columbus’ connection to the film, I expect the same here.”

The Closing Night screening of American Blackout takes place Sunday, May 7 at 7 p.m. at the Arena Grand Theatre in the Arena District. The short film True Lies, created by Inaba and animator Haik Hoisington, precedes the feature. Tickets are on sale now at the Arena Grand box office or online at www.arenagrand.com. For more information, go to www.deepfocusfilmfest.com.