Academy’s Contemporary Documentaries
Series Tackles Religion and Activism

Beverly Hills, CA (RUSHPRNEWS) September 27, 2009-— “Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple” and “Jesus Camp” will screen as part of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 26th annual “Contemporary Documentaries” series on Wednesday, October 3, at 7 p.m. at the Academy’s Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood. Admission is free.

“Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple,” explores the impact of Jim Jones, a charismatic religious leader who attracted a multiracial congregation by preaching about integration and equality, and advocating the values of a “model” society. In November 1978 over 900 members of his church died in the largest mass suicide/murder in history. This documentary feature tells the story of the people who followed Jones in a misbegotten and tragic quest to build utopia. The film was directed and produced by Stanley Nelson.

“Jesus Camp” examines a camp in America’s heartland where born-again Christian children whose upbringing includes an intense combination of Bible study, home schooling and street evangelism are drilled in political activism, radical views and the development of their “prophetic gifts.” The young soldiers in “God’s army” seek to become an active part of this country’s political future and to “take back America for Christ.” The film, directed and produced by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, received an Academy Award nomination for Documentary Feature in 2006.

The first part of the series comprises 13 feature-length and short documentaries that will screen on Wednesday evenings through November 28, and includes several of the 2006 Academy Award-nominated films as well as other documentaries considered by the Academy that year. The series will resume in March 2008 and continue through June.

The Linwood Dunn Theater is located at 1313 Vine Street in Hollywood. All seating is unreserved. Free parking is available through the entrance on Homewood Avenue (one block north of Fountain Avenue). For additional information, visit www.oscars.org or call (310) 247-3600.

Editors: Downloadable images are available at http://photos.oscars.org/

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