Special Screening of 'Newtown' Documentary to be Shown at Democratic National Convention

NEWTOWN, CT — A special screening of Kim Snyder's Newtown documentary will be shown during the Democratic National Convention as part of the IMPACT Film Festival, according to a release. The screening takes place on Wednesday, July 27 at 2 p.m. at the Arden Theatre, 40 N. 2nd St., Philadelphia, PA.

The event will be moderated by Hunter Schwarz, Independent Journal Review National Political Reporter and co-author of The Political Edit. The post-screening panel will feature film director Kim A. Snyder and producer Maria Cuomo Cole, as well Congressmen Ted Lieu (CA-33) and David Price (NC-04).

Mark Barden of Sandy Hook, who was featured in the film, will also join the post-film discussion. Barden is the father of six-year-old first grader Daniel Barden who was tragically killed on December 14, 2012, along with 19 of his classmates and six educators in the horrific school shootings.

The film opens with an aerial shot of Sandy Hook Elementary School, once a safe haven for thousands of students who passed through its doors, now known as the place where the most horrific tragedy of our time took place— the place where 26 innocent lives were violently taken.

"For the first several months I could not imagine why anyone in the world would want to go back into that school. And one morning, and it was literally one morning, I woke up and I had to go," Benjamin's Wheeler's father said, choking back tears.

"I knew the school was going to be torn down and I had to see it before it was gone forever. It answered small minor questions that turn into huge questions when you're unable to sleep. Where was he? What did it look like? How big was the room? What it gave me was a remarkable amount of respect and admiration for the men and women who were there."

The families of Benjamin Wheeler, Dylan Hockley and Daniel Barden, as well as a handful of others, shared 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.

Director Kim A. Snyder hosted a private screening to members of the Newtown community at the Newtown Congregational Church in June. Many left in silence after the somber viewing of the film, while others stayed for the Q & A, wanting to thank the director or tell some of their own stories of that fateful day.

While the film does not have a political message, it does touch on some things that need to change to ensure this type of tragedy won't happen again. The film's theatrical release will take place in September and a national broadcast is slated for early 2017 on PBS’s Independent Lens.

Snyder said in a statement, "Our hope is that this can be used as a tool to better educate delegates, advocates, policymakers." To reserve tickets click here.

For details about the film visit the film website.