Mockumentary of
the assassination of Bush to premiere in Toronto

The Toronto International Film Festival will premiere Death of a President, previously referred to only as DOAP, in the festival's "Visions" program on September 10. A fictional drama, the film focuses on the assassination of President George W. Bush in the style of a retrospective documentary.

"We're thrilled to be screening the film at Toronto," said writer-director Gabriel Range. "It's a striking premise, which may be seen as highly controversial. But it's a serious film, which I hope will open up the debate on where current U.S. foreign and domestic policies are taking us."

Death of a President is described as a critique of the contemporary American political landscape. In the film, President Bush is confronted by a massive antiwar demonstration as he arrives in Chicago to make a speech for business leaders. Unperturbed, Bush proceeds with the visit, but as he leaves the venue, he is gunned down by a sniper. While the nation mourns, the hunt for his killer swings into action, and the state apparatus tries to make sense of this horrific attack on the Administration. The investigation soon focuses on a Syrian-born suspect.

Death of a President is cowritten and directed by Range (The Day Britain Stopped) and is produced by Borough Films' Range, Simon Finch, and Ed Guiney. (The Advocate)