'Newtown' Filmmakers Pull Documentary From Cinemark Theaters

NEWTOWN, CT — The "Newtown" documentary, which chronicles the tragic events that unfolded in Sandy Hook Elementary School in December of 2012, has been pulled from more than 100 Cinemark theaters out of respect for victims of the 2012 Aurora, Colorado, mass shooting, who sued the chain, according to Deadline.

The filmmakers, Kim Snyder and Maria Cuomo Cole, pulled the film from Cinemark theaters after victims of the Aurora theater shooting that left 12 dead and 70 injured lost their suit against Cinemark, in which they alleged the chain didn't do enough to keep patrons safe from the attack by gunman James Holmes. After Cinemark demanded $700,000 from the plaintiffs to cover its legal fees, a #boycottcinemark protest began.

Cinemark later dropped its claim for payments against all but four of the "several dozens" of plaintiffs, according to the Denver Post.

I hope U take time to see this incredibly important film - just not in a Cinemark theater. #Newtown #boycottCinemark https://t.co/uAXV2gy0RP https://t.co/noZaC8SXyn
— Caren Teves (@carenteves) November 1, 2016

Does it make you feel better @Cinemark now that you are taking money from victims of a #MassShooting @ your theater? #BoycottCinemark
— Christy (@Always_Plain) September 24, 2016

Movie night! Glad to support local movie houses. Bonus that we can also #boycottcinemark @ same time. @FleurCinema pic.twitter.com/JW0ApKPBCq
— Kevin Geiken (@kevinofIA) September 11, 2016

“We made a film to honor the children and educators who were murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School, their families and the community of Newtown, and to show how gun violence impacts not just individuals but an entire community,” the filmmakers said in a statement to Deadline. “Out of respect for the families of the Aurora victims and with solidarity for the community as a whole, our decision to remove the film from playing in all Cinemark theaters is unequivocal.”

The film will premiere Wednesday, Nov. 2, nationwide.

Snyder hosted a private screening for members of the Newtown community several months ago at the Newtown Congregational Church. The families of Sandy Hook shooting victims Benjamin Wheeler, Dylan Hockley and Daniel Barden share their heartbreaking stories in the 85-minute documentary about insurmountable grief, unimaginable loss and how they manage to get through each day after such a horrific tragedy.

On Dec. 14, 2012, 20-year-old Adam Lanza shot and killed 20 Sandy Hook Elementary students, all between 6 and 7 years old, and six staff members.

Image by Bruce Fingerhood via Flickr Creative Commons