Convention

Dir. AJ Schnack. 2009, 95 mins. Digital projection. Filmed during the historic 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, in which Barack Obama is named the country’s first African-American presidential candidate, Convention offers a kaleidoscopic portrait of the event, from logistical and security concerns to the dealings of political and media operatives. As various players host, report, and protest the massive event, documentary filmmaker AJ Schnack, along with a team of uniquely talented cinematographers, producers, and directors—including Oscar-nominated Julia Reichert, Oscar-nominated Steve Bognar, Academy Award winner Daniel Junge, and Academy Award winner Laura Poitras—follow along and blanket both the area and arena to offer unprecedented perspectives on this landmark moment in the country’s history.