Sep 21 2009
On September 17, Amazon Watch hosted the Hollywood premiere of CRUDE, an inspiring film about Chevron's $27 billion lawsuit in Ecuador by award-winning filmmaker, Joe Berlinger. Over 350 supporters attended the sold-out benefit.
Many attendees vowed to support efforts to compel Chevron to clean up its oil pollution in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The film is showing at the Nuart Theater in Los Angeles thru September 24 and opening soon in more than 40 cities nationwide.
Among the celebrities who joined Amazon Watch and Joe Berlinger were Sean Penn, Isla Fisher, Stuart Townsend, Q'orianka Kilcher (the New World), Armand Assante, Billy Wirth, Rosanna Arquette, Bellemy Young, Dave Navarro, Jeffrey Donovan ("Burn Notice"), Kim Director ("Cold Case"), Tami Farrell (Miss California-USA), Vanessa Lengies (TNT's "Hawthorne"), and Michael Rymer (Director-"Battlestar Galactica").
"CRUDE is generating unprecedented public awareness about Chevron's irresponsible practices in Ecuador," said Atossa Soltani Executive Director of Amazon Watch. "The film shows both sides and allows the audience to be the judge. Chevron is fast losing the battle in the court of public opinion and showing clear signs that it is afraid of CRUDE."
CRUDE premiered in New York last week and became the US's highest grossing film per screen. The film has received high praise from critics including by the New York Times and LA Times.
The film's success has provoked desperate attacks from Chevron. Company spokesperson Kent Robertson recently criticized CRUDE as being "long on emotions and short on facts" although no one at Chevron has actually confirmed seeing the film. Filmmaker Joe Berlinger called Robertson's claims "outlandish" stating that "the film goes to great lengths to give as much attention to the positions of each of the opposing parties as is possible in a featured length documentary."
"The nationwide release of CRUDE is becoming a nightmare for Chevron," said Mitch Anderson, Campaigner with Amazon Watch.
For more information visit www.ChevronToxico.com/crude or the film website www.crudethemovie.com.