Last week, the annual Freedom Fest gathering was held in Las Vegas--and MPI was a major presence. The creation of Mark Skousen, Freedom Fest has, since 2002, convened the "best and the brightest" to discuss, debate, and celebrate liberty. Dedicated to "great books, great ideas, and great thinkers," the event is independent, non-partisan, egalitarian, and open to everyone.
MPI founder Thor Halvorssen delivered a talk as part of a panel on promoting freedom through film. Other panelists were Rollins College English professor Maurice O'Sullivan, IndieVest CEO and founder Wade Bradley, E Pluribus Unum Films program director Greg Rehmke, and Napoleon Dynamite assistant director Tim Skousen. Discussion centered on how film can be a more powerful medium than print for conveying ideas, ranging over crucial examples such as Blood Diamond. The panelists also delivered recommendations of their favorite films, which included Water, Once, and Apocalypto. The next day, Halvorssen delivered a talk entitled "Just Show It: Promoting Freedom Through Film."
MPI films were on center stage at Freedom Fest. A packed evening screening of Mine Your Own Business drew lots of questions and provided Halvorssen with an opportunity to offer free copies of the film to anyone willing to hold a "movie party" for their friends and associates. MPI also maintained a booth at Freedom Fest that featured trailers from MPI films shown on a 50 inch flat screen TV. The booth was well attended, and was so attractive that waiters and other people working the event frequently stole moments to watch the films being shown.