After a long, breathless wait, filmgoers nationwide will gather July 15 for the bittersweet end of an extraordinary story that changed our culture forever. Tears will be shed, hands will be held, and debates will no doubt rage for years to come about the tale's final chapter -- and how, if at all, its central character may carry on in our consciousness. Oh, and the last Harry Potter movie opens that day, too.
But! First things first: The Undefeated -- the intriguingly conceived, critically maligned documentary tracking former Alaska governor and GOP vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin's political ascent (which is likely to stop short of running for president next year) -- will receive a limited theatrical engagement at "select" AMC Theaters. According to a press release, those initial venues will be located in Dallas, Denver, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Atlanta, Orange County, Phoenix, Houston, Indianapolis and Kansas City to start, with expansion to other markets (via distributor ARC Entertainment) possibly to follow. And if, as some have presumed, the Palin-authorized Undefeated is an attempt to fortify the foundation for a 2012 presidential run, then perhaps Des Moines, Manchester, Nashua, Charleston and a few other higher-density hotspots in the early-primary states will be next on that list. Prospective viewers are invited to vote on those locations here.
Anyway, save the date! Every wizard needs a witch! Full press release below...
[via Huffington Post]
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SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Victory Film Group today announced The Undefeated, which chronicles Sarah Palin's rise from obscurity to national prominence, will play exclusively at select AMC Theatres (AMC), a leading theatrical exhibition and entertainment company, starting on July 15th.
The film will launch in markets such as Dallas, Denver, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Atlanta, Orange County, Phoenix, Houston, Indianapolis, and Kansas City. Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. (NASDAQ: CIDM), a full-service theatrical distributor specializing in digital cinema, is managing the theatrical release and ARC Entertainment has taken on worldwide distribution responsibilities for the project.
"After screening The Undefeated, we took the unusual step of immediately exploring an expedited theatrical release, something we normally wouldn't do during the busy summer months," said Trevor Drinkwater, CEO, ARC Entertainment.
"AMC is committed to providing distinct content to diverse audiences across the United States," said Nikkole Denson-Randolph, VP, Specialty & Alternative Content at AMC Theatres. "We are proud to consistently offer a wide variety of product to our guests."
"The Undefeated is the ideal candidate for digital theatrical distribution," stated Jonathan Dern, President of Cinedigm Entertainment Group. "Given Palin's ardent following throughout the country, digital cinema allows us to be extremely precise and efficient in our distribution strategy, bringing this much-anticipated film directly to interested theatre-goers."
In addition to the cities in which the movie is expected to launch, the public also will be encouraged to vote on future theatre locations that may screen The Undefeated. Voting takes place at www.cinedigm.com/theUndefeatedMovie.
Written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Stephen K. Bannon and produced by Victory Film Group co-founder Glenn Bracken Evans and Dan Fleuette, The Undefeated was independently financed by Victory Film Group and its partners.
"We are thrilled that AMC will give The Undefeated a national theatrical release this summer," says Glenn Bracken Evans. "The documentary is made to be seen on a big screen. With its story of a small-town girl who, against all odds, rises to the pinnacles of American government, the film plays with all the drama of a Rocky picture, only with a woman as the central figure and with politics instead of boxing," he adds.
The film includes leading prominent political commentators Mark Levin, Tammy Bruce and Andrew Breitbart as well as conservative activists Kate Obenshein, Sonnie Johnson and Jamie Radtke. Additionally, the film features interviews with Alaskan civil servants, elected officials and advisors who were involved in Alaskan politics during Governor Palin's tenure.
"We are extremely excited about the initial reception of The Undefeated. We knew we had a great story to tell about a true American hero," said Stephen K. Bannon.
In addition to the AMC theatrical roll out, ARC Entertainment will handle the worldwide distribution. ARC's current slate includes Ironclad, an epic about the signing of the Magna Carta starring Paul Giamatti as King John, and John Carpenter's The Ward (also being released theatrically by Cinedigm). ARC will release a total of 12 films theatrically this year.
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