Bad Press

Released Oct 27, 2023

1 hr. 38 min.

Documentary

List

100%

27 Reviews

Tomatometer

A political docu-thriller about the fight for free press in the Muscogee Nation, BAD PRESS provides unparalleled insight into the inner workings of a modern Native American tribe. Just three years after its passage, the 2018 "Free Press Act" was repealed, placing Mvskoke Media, the Muscogee Nation's sole news outlet, back under control of the chief and his cabinet. Veteran reporter Angel Ellis quickly becomes the key voice of dissent at the decimated news outlet and is willing to lay it all on the line to deliver the truth to her fellow citizens.

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Critics Consensus

Riveting and eye-opening, Bad Press stands as a testament to the fundamental importance of a free press -- and proof that the battle to secure and protect it remains ongoing.

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Daniel S

A truly incredible film about the power of journalism and collective action. It's a timely-yet-evergreen piece of documentary storytelling that I can't recommend enough.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/01/23

Full Review

Becky D

This movie was fantastic. Many documentaries give you little angst and leave you with a warm heart. This was like a "who done-it" with tons of ups and downs and nail-biting action as the days tick by. Enough cannot be said about the complex nature of Native American tribes being "Sovereign Nations" within the US borders and how the tribes make their own laws that can be quite different from US law. FREEDOM of PRESS is guaranteed for US citizens. But Indian tribes make their own rules. Watching the real life employees of a Native newspaper trying to report true stories was an amazing, really satisfying journey. This movie won the Best Documentary Feature Award at the 2023 Santa Fe Film Festival on 10/24/23.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/28/23

Full Review

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Joe Peeler

Director

Rebecca Landsberry-Baker

Director

Angel Ellis

Self

Conrad Beilharz

Producer

Garrett F. Baker

Producer

Tyler Graim

Producer

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Nicolas Rapold

New York Times

Landsberry-Baker and Peeler could linger more on details about the people involved instead of the horse-race suspense of vote counts. But who can blame them when freedom is in the balance...

Nov 30, 2023

Full Review

Jordan Mintzer

Hollywood Reporter

The perfect illustration of what happens when you dismantle the Fourth and Fifth Estates and wind up putting democracy in peril, and it’s something everyone in America should be worried about right now.

Jan 26, 2023

Full Review

Marya E. Gates

RogerEbert.com

Capture(s)—several times—that pit in your stomach feeling that occurs when you're watching the votes roll in for an election that has steep ramifications depending on its outcome.

Jan 24, 2023

Full Review

Avi Offer

NYC Movie Guru

A gripping, eye-opening and vital documentary. A truly great documentary finds just the right balance between entertaining the audience and provoking them emotionally as well as intellectually. Bad Press finds that essential balance with flying colors.

Nov 26, 2023

Full Review

Stephen Silver

The SS Ben Hecht

A fascinating exploration of the sort of story that I wasn’t sure was even possible in America

Rated: 4/5

Nov 17, 2023

Full Review

Ricardo Gallegos

La Estatuilla

Bad Press triumphs in its demonstration of the power of truthful journalism to keep democracy afloat and a community well informed [Full Review in Spanish]

Nov 15, 2023

Full Review

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Synopsis

A political docu-thriller about the fight for free press in the Muscogee Nation, BAD PRESS provides unparalleled insight into the inner workings of a modern Native American tribe. Just three years after its passage, the 2018 "Free Press Act" was repealed, placing Mvskoke Media, the Muscogee Nation's sole news outlet, back under control of the chief and his cabinet. Veteran reporter Angel Ellis quickly becomes the key voice of dissent at the decimated news outlet and is willing to lay it all on the line to deliver the truth to her fellow citizens.

Director: Joe Peeler, Rebecca Landsberry-Baker
Distributor: Context Moves
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 27, 2023, Limited