Documentary Features
Bad Press
When the Muscogee Nation government abruptly repeals its landmark Free Press Act to muzzle the tribe's hard-hitting news outlet, defiant and foul-mouthed journalist Angel Ellis charges headfirst into a historic (and surprisingly funny) battle to restore her tribe’s press freedoms. An enthralling, edge-of-your-seat nail-biter that unfurls with the energy and suspense of a political thriller, Bad Press is a timely and unprecedented documentary about a lone journalist fighting a corrupt system for her fellow citizens.
Georgia premiere
Preceded by the professional short Young Hot Bloods. A Q&A with director Joe Peeler immediately follows the screening.
DIRECTORS
Rebecca Landsberry-Baker
Joe Peeler
PRODUCERS
Conrad Beilharz
Tyler Graim
Garrett F. Baker
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Rebecca Landsberry-Baker is an enrolled citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and the executive director of the Native American Journalists Association. She is a recipient of the 2018 NCAIED Native American 40 Under 40 award and was selected to the Harvard Shorenstein News Leaders Fall 2022 cohort. Joe Peeler is an award-winning director and editor. Peeler began his career apprenticing under legendary director Peter Bogdanovich, and from there edited Lucy Walker's short film The Lion's Mouth Opens, multiple episodes of the Netflix original series Flint Town, and Margaret Brown's documentary short The Black Belt. Their film Bad Press premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and won the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Freedom of Expression.