"UNCOUNTED" West Coast Premiere Jan. 15 in Sacramento

The documentary film UNCOUNTED exposes how Americans were cheated during the 2004 and 2006 elections – and how “enraged” voters have turned their anger into citizen activism – to safeguard the vote. Eyewitness accounts from whistleblowers are backed up by election experts in revealing how Jim Crow tactics, electronic voting machine security breaches, vote count manipulation, and illegal behavior by a major voting machine manufacturer all threaten the very core of our democracy – the vote. Democrats, Republicans, business leaders, elected officials, and rank and file voters are all part of a growing movement in America to correct an election system gone bad.

Anthony Sheppard, 916.705.3165 tony [at] csus[dot]edu> Co-Director, Sacramento Film & Music Festival

NASHVILLE, TN (January 4, 2008)—The West Coast theatrical premiere of the new film the nation is talking about, UNCOUNTED: The New Math of American Elections, occurs January 15 as an Official Gold Circle Screening of the Sacramento Film & Music Festival.

UNCOUNTED is a feature-length documentary that exposes the threat to the core of our democracy – our right to vote.

"We've always had an eye for topical political and social impact documentaries", said Sacramento Film and Music Festival Co-Director, Anthony Sheppard, Ph.D. "So a well researched and produced documentary about the integrity of the voting system, just as we're going into an election year, was a perfect opportunity for our off-season screening series. We're proud to bring it to Sacramento where this has been such a debated issue."

UNCOUNTED, which drew a sellout crowd to a theatrical premiere in Nashville, is written, produced, and directed by multiple Emmy award-winner David Earnhardt. The film examines how the fraud that changed the outcome of the 2004 election led to even greater election fraud in 2006 and now looms as an unbridled threat in 2008. In factual and logical ways, a variety of computer, statistical, and election experts show how the unethical and illegal manipulation of the vote can change the outcome of every election – whether on a local, state, or national level.

“California is a critical part of the UNCOUNTED story,” says Earnhardt. “California is where one man with everything to lose blew the whistle on the illegal activities of Diebold, one of the biggest makers of voting machines in America.” In UNCOUNTED that man, Steve Heller, describes the heavy price he paid just for telling the truth. Former Oakland Tribune investigative reporter Ian Hoffman helped Heller make his story public. Eventually, the California Secretary of State took Diebold to task for using illegal and unsecured software in voting machines.

The West Coast premiere of UNCOUNTED is sponsored by KSAC 1240AM, The Peter B. Collins Show, and the Crest Theatre. Additional support comes from Sacramento for Democracy, a group committed to free, fair and open elections. The organization’s Communication Director, Bill Lackemacher, says the approaching February 5 primaries make the theatrical premiere timely. “With the California presidential primaries just around the corner, now is the time for the average citizen to learn about the vulnerabilities with our voting systems and what they can do to safeguard our democracy.” Lackemacher enthusiastically adds, “This film is a must-see for anyone who believes that the core of our democracy is the right to vote and have that vote counted as cast."

The West Coast premiere screenings are on Tuesday, January 15 at the Crest Theatre, 1013 K Street in Downtown Sacramento. Show times are 5:30 and 8PM. Tickets for the Sacramento screenings can be purchased online at http://www.tickets.com/browseother.cgi?minpid=6145879 and at the Crest Theatre box office. A question and answer session featuring filmmaker David Earnhardt, along with Brad Friedman of Bradblog.com and other special guests will follow both screenings.

David Earnhardt is a producer/director of 30 years and a former broadcast executive. He is a winner of both Emmy and Iris awards. A national documentary on children’s rights, a biographical documentary about jazz legend Helen Humes, and a comedy special featuring an up-and-coming Jay Leno are among Earnhardt’s many credits.

PRESS KIT: http://UncountedTheMovie.com/press.html

PROMOTIONAL TRAILER: http://UncountedTheMovie.com/trailer.html

CONTACT FILMMAKER: David[at]ep-video[dot]com

For more information about the Sacramento Film and Music Festival go to http://www.sacfilm.com.

To learn more about the Peter B. Collins Show, visit http://www.PeterBCollins.com.

And to find out about Sacramento for Democracy, visit http://www.sacramentofordemocracy.org.