# Tribeca Film Festival to screen Wakefield anti-vac film.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tribeca-film-festival-to-screen-wakefield-anti-vac-film/749890
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [March 22, 2016, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tribeca-film-festival-to-screen-wakefield-anti-vac-film/749890 "2016-03-22T21:15:08Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2016, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tribeca-film-festival-to-screen-wakefield-anti-vac-film/749890/1 "2016-03-22T21:15:08Z")
> **[What's going on here? Andrew Wakefield's antivaccine propaganda film to be...](https://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2016/03/22/wtf-andrew-wakefields-antivaccine-documentary-to-be-screened-at-the-tribeca-film-festival)**
>
> When last we left Andrew Wakefield, hero to the antivaccine movement, he was a headliner on the Conspira-Sea Cruise, a cruise filled with conspiracy theorists, crop circle chasers, cranks, quacks, and antivaccine activists.
> [@](#):
>
> When last we left Andrew Wakefield, hero to the antivaccine movement, he was a headliner on the Conspira-Sea Cruise, a cruise filled with conspiracy theorists, crop circle chasers, cranks, quacks, and antivaccine activists. It was a huge come down from his formerly exalted position as chief spokesman and “scientist” for the antivaccine movement, a position he enjoyed for many years before he was struck off (i.e., had his medical license stripped from him) in the UK and later had his scientific fraud documented so thoroughly by investigative reporter Brian Deer. Since then, it’s all been downhill. In January, it looked as though Wakefield had hit bottom.
>
> Maybe he did, because, unfortunately, things appear to be looking up for him, at least somewhat. Here’s what I mean. Regular readers might remember my mentioning the documentary Andrew Wakefield was working on. It was going to be about the latest conspiracy theory coming out of the fever swamp of antivaccine pseudoscience, the so-called “CDC Whistleblower” William W. Thompson.
> …
> It’s going to premiere in New York on April 24. And, get this. It’s going to be featured in the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival.
[https://tribecafilm.com/filmguide/vaxxed-from-coverup-to-catastrophe-2016](https://tribecafilm.com/filmguide/vaxxed-from-coverup-to-catastrophe-2016)
The trailer: [https://player.vimeo.com/video/159566038](https://player.vimeo.com/video/159566038)
This shit just won’t go away. How many more unnecessarily sick, damaged, or dead children will it take before people come to their senses?
Vaccines DO NOT CAUSE AUTISM! The film festival should be ashamed of itself.
---
### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2016, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tribeca-film-festival-to-screen-wakefield-anti-vac-film/749890/2 "2016-03-22T21:43:56Z")
So I went on Tribeca’s website and its Wikipedia page to see what the selection criteria were and couldn’t find them anywhere.
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### Author:  [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2016, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tribeca-film-festival-to-screen-wakefield-anti-vac-film/749890/3 "2016-03-22T22:46:39Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#):
>
> So I went on Tribeca’s website and its Wikipedia page to see what the selection criteria were and couldn’t find them anywhere.
All I can find is what’s on their FAQ page
[https://tribecafilm.com/festival/faq](https://tribecafilm.com/festival/faq)
where it says:
> [@](#):
>
> The films, chosen from over 6,000 submissions, are from every corner of the globe and offer almost as many perspectives as New Yorkers have opinions.
So apparently it’s not some kind of free for all and the festival is involved in choosing what screens. Maybe there is no official criteria, but apparently someone involved with the festival must have okayed it. But I’m not pitting just them. I’m including anyone involved with or supporting it.
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### Author:  [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2016, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tribeca-film-festival-to-screen-wakefield-anti-vac-film/749890/4 "2016-03-22T23:06:24Z")
> [@](#):
>
> The films, chosen from over 6,000 submissions, are from every corner of the globe and offer almost as many perspectives as New Yorkers have opinions.
Mendacious bullshit is not a “perspective”, nor is it art. Wakefield is a fraud who has been thoroughly debunked and disqualified from medical practice. The only way this film should get a pass would be as an illustrative example of outright fraud. To screen it as a “documentary” is indeed shameful.
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### Author:  [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2016, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tribeca-film-festival-to-screen-wakefield-anti-vac-film/749890/5 "2016-03-23T12:05:59Z")
_““It’s shocking,” Michael Specter, a staff writer at the New Yorker who has studied and written extensively about the issue, said when asked in a phone interview Tuesday about the screening. “This is a criminal who is responsible for people dying. This isn’t someone who has a 'point-of-view.’ It’s comparable to Leni Riefenstahl making a movie about the Third Reich, or Mike Tyson making a movie about violence toward women. The fact that a respectable organization like the Tribeca Film Festival is giving Wakefield a platform is a disgraceful thing to do.””_
> **[Tribeca to screen movie by controversial anti-vaccine activist Andrew Wakefield](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-anti-vaccine-andrew-wakefield-movie-tribeca-20160322-story.html)**
>
> A movie from the leader of the anti-vaccine movement is set to create controversy when it screens at the Tribeca Film Festival next month.
Well, tell us how you really feel, Mike (wish he’d avoided the Godwin).
Evidently one or more of the Powers That Be at the festival sympathizes with the vaccines-cause-autism meme and helped push this crap through. I don’t buy the Tell Both Sides argument, doubting for instance that Tribeca would air a “controversial” film about an academic conspiracy to promote the climate change “agenda”, directed by a disgraced and de-credentialed scientist.
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### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2016, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tribeca-film-festival-to-screen-wakefield-anti-vac-film/749890/6 "2016-03-23T12:16:31Z")
I would assume it’s being screened so people can point and laugh. No?
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### Author:  [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2016, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tribeca-film-festival-to-screen-wakefield-anti-vac-film/749890/7 "2016-03-23T14:23:01Z")
> [@kayaker](#):
>
> I would assume it’s being screened so people can point and laugh. No?
Apparently one journalist [got a statement on the film’s inclusion from the organizers:](http://jezebel.com/tribeca-film-festival-to-screen-film-by-former-doctor-w-1766422469)
> [@](#):
>
> Tammie Rosen, Tribeca’s senior vice-president for communications, sent us the following statement:
>
> “Tribeca, as most film festivals, are about dialogue and discussion. Over the years we have presented many films from opposing sides of an issue. We are a forum, not a judge.”
Based on info from the film’s PR firm, it sounds as though there are some show-biz celebrities supporting the film, which probably made it a more desirable pick:
> [@](#):
>
> Vaxxed is being represented by a company called Lighthouse Public Relations. We spoke with Dawna Schuman of Lighthouse today, who again denied that Leonardo DiCaprio is involved with promoting the film in any way.
>
> That said, she added, “There’s been people who have supported it. A lot of people have liked the idea of the film. Nobody’s lent their name publicly to the film.”
>
> That’s going to change at the Tribeca screening, Schuman added: “There is celebrity support and they’ll be attending in New York.”
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### Author:  [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2016, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tribeca-film-festival-to-screen-wakefield-anti-vac-film/749890/8 "2016-03-23T16:38:36Z")
I guess that proves the folly of getting your public affairs points of view from “celebrities.” Why anyone pays attention to what Leo dC or any other actor/celebrity thinks about anything outside their field of expertise (hint: makeup, acting, getting acting roles, how to make a speech at an awards ceremony, etc.) is way beyond my understanding.
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### Author:  [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2016, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tribeca-film-festival-to-screen-wakefield-anti-vac-film/749890/9 "2016-03-23T17:04:35Z")
[SMBC take on autism and vaccines](http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?id=4033)
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### Author:  [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2016, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tribeca-film-festival-to-screen-wakefield-anti-vac-film/749890/10 "2016-03-23T17:24:40Z")
This is a film festival that was created in the wake of 9/11, in an effort to revitalize the Tribeca area of Manhattan.
Maybe next year someone can submit a documentary about the US government’s secret role in using pre-planned explosive charges and missiles to bring down the twin towers?
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### Author:  [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2016, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tribeca-film-festival-to-screen-wakefield-anti-vac-film/749890/11 "2016-03-23T17:25:27Z")
[QUOTE=Tribeca VP]
Over the years we have presented many films from opposing sides of an issue. We are a forum, not a judge.
[/QUOTE]
A collection of blatant lies is not “an opposing side”. I don’t expect a film festival to be a “judge” of factual content, but I do expect a minimal level of integrity and due diligence that rises above the level of “gullible ignoramus”.
Sadly this seems all too common. It reminds me of the film [_The Great Global Warming Swindle_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Global_Warming_Swindle) produced by the charlatan Martin Durkin, which was aired on the UK’s Channel 4 and was so filled with lies and misrepresentations that it generated a flood of complaints to the UK broadcast regulator. This didn’t stop it from being shortlisted for best broadcast documentary in the UK that year and winning “Best Documentary” at an Italian film festival. On the bright side, from what I can tell the folks at Cannes at least had the good sense to reject it, because all Durkin could do was infiltrate the event to hold an impromptu press conference.
[QUOTE=Spokeswoman for the film]
There is celebrity support and they’ll be attending in New York.
[/QUOTE]
Right. And if it was a film singing the praises of scientology, Tom Cruise wouldn’t just be attending, he’d be starring in it. And if it was all about the genuine authenticity of astrology and ouija boards, Shirley MacLean would be all over it. How on earth can any reasonably intelligent person think this means something?
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### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2016, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tribeca-film-festival-to-screen-wakefield-anti-vac-film/749890/12 "2016-03-23T18:09:16Z")
I still say I’d attend a showing of the film if it were done **Rocky Horror Picture Show** style, with the audience throwing syringes at the screen, etc.
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### Author:  [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2016, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tribeca-film-festival-to-screen-wakefield-anti-vac-film/749890/13 "2016-03-23T18:22:23Z")
No, not etc.! Anything but etc…
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### Author:  [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2016, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tribeca-film-festival-to-screen-wakefield-anti-vac-film/749890/14 "2016-03-26T11:48:22Z")
_People_ magazine says Robert De Niro is responsible for this.
[http://www.people.com/article/robet-de-niro-reveals-he-backed-screening-of-vaccine-documentary](http://www.people.com/article/robet-de-niro-reveals-he-backed-screening-of-vaccine-documentary)
> [@](#):
>
> Robert De Niro is taking responsibility for the screening of the controversial documentary Vaxxed, according to a report.
> …
> However, that hasn’t stopped De Niro – who is a co-founder of the festival – from stepping forward and revealing that he pushed for the documentary’s inclusion.
_People_ deserves an honorary pitting for their unjustified objectivity about this.
> [@](#):
>
> The man behind the movie is anti-vaccine leader Andrew Wakefield, who is also expected to be present at the viewing of his documentary. Wakefield has been known as a much disputed adversary of the scientific community, as some believe he distributes false information about vaccinations.
Yeah, and some believe that the Earth is flat. :mad:
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### Author:  [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2016, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tribeca-film-festival-to-screen-wakefield-anti-vac-film/749890/15 "2016-03-26T11:55:36Z")
when did we as a society determine that opinions are facts and are all equally valid?
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### Author:  [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2016, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tribeca-film-festival-to-screen-wakefield-anti-vac-film/749890/16 "2016-03-26T12:07:01Z")
> [@davidm](#):
>
> _People_ magazine says Robert De Niro is responsible for this.
> [http://www.people.com/article/robet-de-niro-reveals-he-backed-screening-of-vaccine-documentary](http://www.people.com/article/robet-de-niro-reveals-he-backed-screening-of-vaccine-documentary)
> _People_ deserves an honorary pitting for their unjustified objectivity about this.
> Yeah, and some believe that the Earth is flat. :mad:
I probably should have said “some believe that the Earth is round”, but you get my point.
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### Author:  [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2016, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tribeca-film-festival-to-screen-wakefield-anti-vac-film/749890/17 "2016-03-26T15:34:31Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#):
>
> Evidently one or more of the Powers That Be at the festival sympathizes with the vaccines-cause-autism meme and helped push this crap through.
[More on DeNiro](http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2016/03/25/mystery-solved-it-was-robert-de-niro-who-got-andrew-wakefields-antivaccine-film-selected-by-the-tribeca-film-festival/) and his explanation that he’s Just Asking Questions.
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### Author:  [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2016, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tribeca-film-festival-to-screen-wakefield-anti-vac-film/749890/18 "2016-03-27T00:22:48Z")
And now the Tribeca Film Festival has decided **not** to screen Wakefield’s mockumentary.
> **[The Tribeca Film Festival drops Andrew Wakefield's antivaccine conspiracyfest...](https://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2016/03/26/the-tribeca-film-festival-drops-andrew-wakefields-antivaccine-conspiracyfest-documentary)**
>
> Well, well, well, curiouser and curiouser.
> Earlier this afternoon on the Tribeca Film Festival page:
>
> UPDATE: 3/26/2016 Statement from Robert De Niro, co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival, regarding VAXXED at the Festival:
Apparently DeNiro could handle [“controversy”](http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/robert-de-niro-giving-tribeca-platform-vaccination-fraud-article-1.2578692); [being laughed at](http://www.buzzfeed.com/cbpolis/science-twitter-drags-de-niro-15-funniest-future-29a0x) might have been the final straw.
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### Author:  [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2016, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tribeca-film-festival-to-screen-wakefield-anti-vac-film/749890/19 "2016-03-27T01:37:57Z")
So, it was Robert DeNiro, I was expecting Donald or Ivanka Trump’s grubby fingers were the ones involved on the push to get that movie in the Festival.
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### Author:  [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2016, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tribeca-film-festival-to-screen-wakefield-anti-vac-film/749890/20 "2016-03-27T11:36:59Z")
Sometimes facts do win.
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