Firstamendjfranken

The First Amendment Project: Fox vs. Franken
Aug. 18, 7:00 p.m.
In partnership with the Sundance Channel

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise therof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." - The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution

“Fox v. Franken,” directed by acclaimed documentarians Chris
Hegedus and Nick Doob, takes a light-hearted look at comedian and
author Al Franken’s battle with cable news network Fox News Channel
and firebrand host Bill O’Reilly. They went to court over the use of
the phrase “Fair & Balanced” which was included in the subtitle of
Franken’s book, “Lies and the Lying Liars That Tell Them.” Through
that controversy the film gets to the issue of First Amendment
protection of satire and the role of copyright law.

"The First Amendment Project" is an original Sundance Channel/Court TV production exploring contemporary issues that redefine our Constitutional rights. In recent years, various international events -- from 9/11 and the War on Terrorism to the politicization of religious groups -- have pulled and pushed on our concept of the First Amendment. In response to these new times, Sundance Channel and Court TV invited a group of filmmakers to explore the First Amendment on their own terms and in their own way. The resulting three films, of which this is the third, much like the filmmakers who created them, demonstrate a fascinating range of ideas and approaches, each returning to that central conflict of freedom and responsibility that is embedded in the First Amendment.