Film Festival Scores Victory for Free Speech

One of Oldest Film Festivals in the World wins key Bill of Rights settlement
for national artists

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Dec. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ann Arbor Film Festival
(AAFF) scored a key victory for free speech and artists' rights by
successfully challenging and removing unconstitutional state arts funding
restrictions with a federal lawsuit. As one of the oldest film festivals in
the world, this Academy Award-qualifying festival is internationally renown as
a champion of artists and films that are bold, pioneering and artistically-
inspired.
These disputed state restrictions included a ban on funding art that
contained "depictions of flag desecration" and "displays of sex acts." Some
legislators specifically accused the AAFF of showing films that contained
"displays of sex acts" and labeled these films as "pornographic," a charge
vehemently denied by the AAFF. The more than 20 filmmakers from around the
world, whose work was cited as "offensive" in this national controversy,
unanimously supported the AAFF in their stand against censorship.
The new guidelines for arts funding resulting from the AAFF's lawsuit
mirror the National Endowment for the Arts guidelines, which have been upheld
by the U.S. Supreme Court. These flexible guidelines state that "Artistic
excellence and artistic merit are the criteria by which applications will be
judged, taking into consideration general standards of decency and respect for
the diverse beliefs and values of the people of this state."
Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, one of the AAFF's prominent supporters,
shared his thoughts about the lawsuit, "I am thrilled by this decision--it
protects us all, even those who might be inclined to limit this great
Festival's free expression."
About the Ann Arbor Film Festival
The Ann Arbor Film Festival is an internationally acclaimed forum for the
most artistically-inspired independent and experimental films in the world. In
2007 the AAFF received more than 2,000 submissions from more than 30
countries. As the longest-running film festival of its kind in North America
and an Academy-Award qualifying festival, the AAFF is steeped in a rich
tradition of ground-breaking cinema. Thousands of influential filmmakers have
showcased early work at the AAFF, including luminaries such as Kenneth Anger,
Agnes Varda, Andy Warhol, Yoko Ono, Gus Van Sant, Barbara Hammer, Lawrence
Kasdan, and George Lucas. The AAFF is committed to supporting visionary
filmmakers, promoting the art of film, and providing its audience with new
films that challenge, inspire, innovate and give voice to diverse
perspectives. The 46th Ann Arbor Film Festival takes place March 25 - 30, 2008
at the historic Michigan Theater and the State Theater, in downtown Ann Arbor,
Michigan.
CONTACT:
Christen McArdle, Executive Director
Ann Arbor Film Festival
734-995-5356
pr@aafilmfest.org

www.aafilmfest.org

SOURCE Ann Arbor Film Festival

Christen McArdle, Executive Director, Ann Arbor Film Festival,
+1-734-995-5356, pr@aafilmfest.org