rakontur blog

DISPUTE NEARLY STOPS EDGY FILM

June 12, 2002

The show did go on Tuesday night at the 11th annual Florida Film Festival. But it almost didn’t. Because of a dispute between the filmmakers and the company that claims North American distribution rights, Raw Deal: A Question of Consent was nearly pulled from the festival program at the Colonial Promenade 6.

“This is the screening that almost didn’t happen,” said director/co-producer Billy Corben, introducing the film to the sold-out audience. “This is the closest to Gainesville it’s ever been shown.”

The shockingly graphic documentary explores a sexual incident in February 1999 at the Delta Chi fraternity house of the University of Florida.

“This is an unfortunate example of some third party trying to exert influence on a filmmaker through a nonprofit festival,” said festival co-founder Philip Tiedtke. Raw Deal is scheduled to be shown again at the festival at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Colonial Promenade 6.