Morris film on Abu Ghraib prison scandal gets Boston premiere at Brandeis April 17

Apr. 01, 2008

Media contact: Marsha MacEachern
marsham@brandeis.edu or 781-736-4203
Ticket information: Dona DeLorenzo at delorenz@brandeis.edu

WHO: Filmmaker Errol Morris will screen his film on the Abu Ghraib scandal and answer questions fromMorris the audience.

WHAT: One year after screening rough cuts from his latest project surrounding the Abu Ghraib prison scandal at Brandeis, Academy Award winner Errol Morris is coming back to share it all. Morris will visit the university April 17 for the Boston-area premiere of “Standard Operating Procedure” (2008).

The film officially debuted in February at the 58th Berlin International Film Festival and was awarded the Silver Bear Jury Grand Prize. It was the first documentary ever in competition at the festival, which is also known as the Berlinale.

In the film, Morris examines photographs that depict abuse and torture of prisoners held by the US in the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. Accusations and photographs of prisoner abuse began circulating in 2004, which led to the removal of more than a dozen American soldiers and officers from duty. Several of them were convicted and sentenced to federal prison.

Morris worked with Sony Pictures Classics and Participant Productions on the film. He previously won an Oscar for his 2003 documentary “Fog of War.”

The ticketed screening at Brandeis is open to the media and members of the Brandeis community and will be followed by a question and answer session with Morris. The event is sponsored by the Film Studies Program and the Edie and Lew Wasserman Fund. For more information contact Dona DeLorenzo at delorenz@brandeis.edu.

WHEN: Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: Wasserman Cinematheque, located in the Sachar International Center, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, Mass.