Orlando Sentinel - DISPUTE NEARLY STOPS EDGY FILM

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.