Bad Press

It’s David vs. Goliath in this nail-biting political thriller as censored Indigenous reporter Angel Ellis of Oklahoma goes up against a corrupt Muscogee Nation Tribal Council over the freedom of the press. Winner of the Sundance 2023 U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award. —M.G.

Though increasingly under attack, our right to freedom of the press is protected by the United States Constitution. As sovereign nations, Native American tribes determine their own laws and constitutions. And, surprisingly, out of 574 federally recognized Native American tribes, only five have passed laws protecting freedom of the press. One nation on the forefront of the battle for a free press is the Muscogee Nation in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. After their 2015 Free Press Act is abruptly repealed, the leading newspaper, Mvskoke Media, launches a powerful fight against corruption to protect their jobs, their democracy, and transparency in their government. Focusing the lens on central subject Angel Ellis, a courageous and dedicated journalist at Mvskoke Media, BAD PRESS is an enthralling nail biter that unfurls its documentary plot with the energy and suspense of a narrative drama. —G.S. 

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