‘Majority Rules’: Abramorama Acquires North American Theatrical Rights To AJ Schnack’s Political Documentary

Valerie Complex
·3-min read

EXCLUSIVE: Abramorama announced they have acquired the rights to North American theatrical distribution of veteran political documentarian AJ Schnack’s latest film Majority Rules, which captures a history-making period during which Alaska became the first state in the nation to implement new election reforms that promise to put voters back at the forefront of elections and governing.

In Majority Rules, Schnack, who is known for his nonpartisan documentaries that delve into American electoral politics, including Convention, Caucus and Midterms, follows Alaska as it is set to implement two novel election reforms: the elimination of traditional party primaries and the ability for voters to rank candidates based on preferences. When the state’s longest-serving Congressman dies unexpectedly leaving an open seat, it prompts a special election to put this system to the test months earlier than anticipated. As dozens of candidates, including former Governor Sarah Palin, vie for the highly coveted seat, everyone must understand how the new voting reforms will alter the rules of campaigning and winning. The surprising outcome of this special election sparked support for election reform in other states, as well as strong opposition from political parties and partisans. The film ultimately addresses two of the country’s most pressing issues: how the American electoral system became so broken, and whether changing how we vote could transform the entire system for the better.

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Making its world premiere on June 14th at the DC/DOX Film Festival, Abramorama will open the film in NYC on June 28th at the Village East Cinema with the filmmakers and special guests hosting Q&A’s, before expanding to additional theaters nationwide.

Director AJ Schnack said, “I’m so excited to be working with Abramorama, which has released so many of my favorite documentaries, on bringing Majority Rules to theatres. There are all kinds of reasons to feel like the American electoral system is broken – from the lack of good choices to a sense that our elected leaders are more interested in representing the powerful rather than the people. Going into this project, and after a decade of making films and series about American politics, I was pretty skeptical that anything could make it better. What a relief to discover that I might have been wrong!  I feel so fortunate to have worked with such an amazing creative team in Alaska and across the country to tell a story that’s hopeful, suspenseful, educational and fun.”

Abramorama CEO Karol Martesko-Fenster added, “Abramorama is thrilled to work with AJ Schnack and the extended filmmaking team behind Majority Rules, providing the American public with a front row seat into the Alaskan open primary. Amidst an election year when Americans fiercely debate democracy and how government should work, Majority Rules takes the viewer on an unexpected emotional ride that reveals a solution is alive and at hand for the majority of Americans.”

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