Politics on Film Festival screening

Last night, we screened the movie at the first ever Politics on Film Festival in Washington, D.C.  The venue was the Navy Memorial Auditorium, a very nice theater with great big crystal-clear projection.  In this age of viewing movies on iPhones and digital downloads, it’s still fantastic to see this movie on a big screen, where the vistas of Kansas scenery can have their full impact.  Politics on Film and our own humble marketing efforts managed to pretty much fill the 250-seat house, so you could hear the laugh when M.T. Liggett says “First off, I think George Bush is an asshole.”

Tom Frank, the author of the book, and Joe Winston, director of the movie, participated in a panel discussion afterwards, joined by Cameron Lynch and John Feehery.  Cameron served as emcee and boasted a Kansas upbringing similar to Tom Frank’s, and John was sort of an expert witness from the world of political operatives.  They’re also both avowed Republicans, while Tom is a feisty liberal Democrat/Populist, which sparked a few lively exchanges of views, which tended to end in laughter when Tom would get carried away until someone swiped the microphone from him.

A packed house at the Navy Memorial Auditorium, Washington, D.C.

Cameron Lynch, John Feehery, Thomas Frank and Joe Winston at the Q & A panel after the Sneak Preview of "What's the Matter with Kansas?"

Joe makes Tom laugh with his answer to an audience question

• Special sneak preview screening – May 9, 2009 in Washington, D.C.
• Tomorrow night’s panel
• Reflecting on the Tallgrass Film Festival