Killswitch (film)

Killswitch is an award winning documentary film about the battle to control the Internet. The movie is a collaboration between director Ali Akbarzadeh, producer Jeffrey Horn, writer Chris Dollar and Akorn Entertainment.[1] It premiered at the Woodstock Film Festival, where it won the James K. Lyons Award for Best Editing of a feature documentary [2] and then made its international debut, playing alongside Citizenfour at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam.[3] In 2015, it screened on Capitol Hill, as well as film festivals in Norway, Sweden, Croatia, and Romania. It is currently screening at the Newport Beach Film Festival and will be announcing world wide distribution soon.[4][1][5]

Synopsis

The Internet is under attack. Free Speech, innovation, and democracy are all up for grabs.[6]

Lawrence Lessig, Tim Wu, and Peter Ludlow frame the story of two young hackers, Aaron Swartz and Edward Snowden, who symbolize the disruptive and dynamic nature of the Internet. Their lives parallel one another as they free information and take on the system, putting them directly in the cross-hairs of some of the most powerful interests in the world. Swartz leads the charge in defeating the Stop Online Piracy Act, and pays a heavy price, but not before he challenges his mentor, Lawrence Lessig, to take up his call and lead a crusade to restore our democracy. While Snowden is forced to flee the country and ponder his next move.[7] [8][9]

Capitol Hill Screening

In February 2015, Killswitch was invited to screen at the Capitol Visitor's Center in Washington DC by Congressman Alan Grayson. The event was held on the eve of the Federal Communications Commission's historic decision on Net Neutrality. Congressman Grayson, Harvard Professor Lawrence Lessig, and Free Press (organization) CEO Craig Aaron paid homage to Aaron Swartz and spoke about the importance of protecting the free and open Internet. [10][11]

Reception

Killswitch's Internet Movie Data Base rating is 8.8/10.[12] Congressman Alan Grayson states that Killswitch is "One of the most honest accounts of the of the battle to control the Internet -- and access to information itself."[4] Richard von Busack of the Metro Silicon Valley, writes, "Some of the most lapidary use of found footage this side of The Atomic Café".[13] Fred Swegles of the Orange County Register, remarks, "Anyone who values unfettered access to online information is apt to be captivated by Killswitch, a gripping and fast-paced documentary."[1]

Film Festival Premieres

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Battle for Internet Control fuels O.C. produced Movie". Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  2. ↑ "2014 Woodstock Film Festival Honors Darren Aronofsky, Announces Audience Awards". Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  3. ↑ "International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam".
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Grayson Screen Award-Winning "Killswitch" Documentary".
  5. ↑ Swegles, Fred. "Battle for Internet Control Fuels O.C. -produced Movie". Orange County Register. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Synopsis". Killswitch Official Website. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  7. ↑ von Busack, Richard. "Breaking the Internet: 'Killswitch' Screens at Cinequest". Metro Silicon Valley. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  8. ↑ Swegles, Fred. "Battle for Internet Control Fuels OC - produced Movie". Orange County Register. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  9. ↑ Grayson, Alan. "The Price You Pay for Rocking the Boat". Huffington Post. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  10. ↑ Grayson, Alan. "Grayson Screen Award Winning "Killswitch" Documentary". Congressman Grayson's House of Rep Official Web Page. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  11. ↑ "The Price That You Pay for Rocking The Boat". Huffington Post. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Killswitch IMDb".
  13. ↑ "Breaking the Internet: "Killswitch" Screens at Cinequest". Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Killswitch - IDFA". idfa.nl. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  15. ↑ "2014 Woodstock Film Festival online schedule and tickets". woodstockfilmfestival.com. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  16. ↑ "Cinequest - Killswitch". Cinequest Film Festival. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  17. ↑ "Killswitch screening notice". Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  18. ↑ "ZAGREBDOX International Documentary Film Festival listing for Killswitch". zagrebdox.net. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  19. ↑ "Newport Beach Festival listing".

External links