NEWS FLASH: Film Festival Premiere and DVD Release for Channing Tatum's 'Stop-Loss'

Recently I let you all know that the Australian release date for Channing Tatum's drama 'Stop-Loss' was pushed out to August 14, 2008. For those disappointed Aussies that were looking forward to the initial May release of the film, I have some great news.

Prior to the nationwide release of the film, 'Stop-Loss' will have its Australian premiere at the 55th annual Sydney Film Festival which runs from June 4 - 22, 2008.

The Sydney Film Festival screens feature films, documentaries, short films and animations across the city at the State Theatre, GU George Street Cinemas, Metro Theatre and Dendy Opera Quays. The festival is a major event on the New South Wales cultural calendar and is one of the world’s longest running film festivals.

Fans can get all of the film festival screening information for 'Stop-Loss' below:

• June 13, 2008
  Showtime: 6:30 PM
  Location: State Theater
  Attend Screening: Click Here to Buy Tickets


• June 14, 2008
  Showtime: 11:50 AM
  Location: State Theater
  Attend Screening: Click Here to Buy Tickets

'Stop-Loss' Update

To give everyone a quick general update on the film...

Since the release of Channing's film 'Stop-Loss', director Kimberly Peirce has been extremely busy promoting the film, winning awards, and raising awareness about the Stop-Loss policy that is impacting US soldiers serving around the world.

Variety announced that Peirce ( a 1996 gradute of Columbia University's School of the Arts' film division) received the Sarris Award during the Columbia University's Film Festival.

Named for critic and film professor Andrew Sarris, the award honors service and artistic achievement of Columbia U. alums. Sarris award recipients are selected by the school's film students. Feel free to learn more about the talented director on her official website.

Amazingly, 'Stop-Loss' has helped spark a national debate in both the entertainment and news media. So much so, that all of the presidential candidates are now addressing the Stop-Loss policy on the campaign trail.

Kimberly mentions on the film's Facebook page that Senator McCain now calls the Stop-Loss program a "back door draft", which is a term we all learned in the film. Senator Clinton is calling for the program's end, and Senator Obama has petitioned Defense Secretary Gates to end it also; Kim mentioned to me that Obama actually asked supporters on his website to see 'Stop-Loss' in theaters after she sent him a letter educating him about the policy.

With Stop-Lossed soldiers and their families in attendance, Kimberly recently addressed the National Press Club, which spurred publications and news outlets including USA Today, Newsweek, The Washington Post, and MSNBC to prominently feature stories on the Stop-Loss issue. NBC Nightly News is also about to air an extended look at the policy featuring many of the soldiers and families from the National Press Club event.

The LA Times reports that the number of soldiers affected by the military's Stop-Loss program has risen sharply since the Pentagon extended combat tours last year, so 'Stop-Loss' is no longer just a film; it is now an integral part of a movement with the goal of ending a controversial policy that forces our soldiers to remain in the Army involuntarily.

Kimberly Peirce has also confirmed that the 'Stop-Loss' DVD will be released on or before July 22nd. I have seen release dates as early as July 8th, but I will let you all know when I have a more solid date.

'Stop-Loss' is currently scheduled to premiere in Italy next on June 6, 2008, and you can CLICK HERE to get a complete list of all of the release dates for the film around the world.

Love Channing Tatum?
Stay in the Know...Subscribe to Channing Tatum Unwrapped: Email | RSS