Outside the Box [Office] and Netflix invite you and a guest to attend

A Special Advance Screening of

FREE LEONARD PELTIER

Official Selection: Sundance Film Festival 2025

Directed by David France and Jesse Short Bull
Produced by David France, Jhane Myers, Paul McGuire, and Bird Runningwater

Followed by a Q&A with David France
Moderated by SCA Vice Dean, Dr. Michael Renov

7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, October 6th, 2026

The Eileen Norris Cinema Theater at the Frank Sinatra Hall
3507 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles, CA 90089

FREE ADMISSION. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. RSVPs REQUIRED.

FOOD AND DRINKS ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED IN THE AUDITORIUM.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

About Free Leonard Peltier

In the early 1970s, the United States was roiled by protest: Vietnam, women’s rights, gay rights, black power and, rising up at the forefront, the American Indian Movement (AIM). One of its members was Leonard Peltier, a young mechanic who joined the movement to defend and protect his people. In 1975, a shootout between AIM members and FBI agents on South Dakota's Pine Ridge Reservation left two agents and one Native activist dead. Peltier is then arrested, tried, convicted of their murder and sentenced to two life terms in prison and a subsequent legal battle ensues on the basis of evidence shown to be inconclusive at best, falsified at worst. A Native led-production, FREE LEONARD PELTIER follows the decades-long fight for his freedom, from the controversial trial and multiple failed appeals, to the new generation of Native activists who kept his cause alive. On the fiftieth anniversary of the shoot out on Pine Ridge, with Peltier still in prison, the FREE LEONARD PELTIER production team revisits the case and advocates for his release.

In a historic turn of events, on January 20, 2025, with just 14 minutes left in his time in office, President Biden commuted his sentence.

Provided courtesy of Netflix. Running time: 120 minutes.

About the Guest

DAVID FRANCE (Director, Producer)

David France is an Oscar-nominated filmmaker, New York Times bestselling author, and award-winning investigative journalist, France directed HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE (2012), which received Academy and Emmy nominations and a Peabody Award. His 2017 film, THE DEATH & LIFE OF MARSHA P. JOHNSON, a Netflix Original Documentary, won the Outfest “Freedom Award” and a special jury recognition from Sheffield International Documentary Festival. He won a BAFTA, Peabody, Teddy, and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights award for WELCOME TO CHECHNYA (2020), which premiered at Sundance. David's 2022 film, HBO’s HOW TO SURVIVE A PANDEMIC, won The Cinema for Peace Award on Global Health 2022 and an Emmy award for Outstanding Science and Technology Documentary.  As Executive Producer, he has overseen multiple projects including QUEENDOM (Greenwich Entertainment 2024), shortlisted for an Oscar in 2025.

About Outside the Box [Office]

Outside the Box [Office] is a weekly showcase for upcoming releases highlighting world cinema, documentary and independent film titles. The series draws from around the globe to present movies that may challenge, inspire or simply entertain.

To view the calendar of screenings, click here

To SUBSCRIBE to our MAILING LIST for upcoming free screenings and events, e-mail the word "Subscribe" to: aago@cinema.usc.edu

Check-In & Reservations

This program is open to all eligible individuals. The USC School of Cinematic Arts operates all of its programs and activities consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor.

This screening is free of charge and open to the public. A reservation confirmation will automatically be sent to your e-mail account upon successfully making an RSVP through this website. Doors will open at 6:30 P.M.

All SCA screenings are OVERBOOKED to ensure seating capacity in the theater, therefore seating is not guaranteed based on RSVPs. The RSVP list will be checked in on a first-come, first-served basis until the theater is full. Once the theater has reached capacity, we will no longer be able to admit guests, regardless of RSVP status.

Accessibility Needs

Individuals with disabilities who need accommodations to attend this event may contact Alessandro Ago, Assistant Dean, Programming and Special Events, at aago@cinema.usc.edu or 213-740-2330. It is requested that individuals requiring accommodations or auxiliary aids such as sign language interpreters and alternative format materials notify us at least seven days prior to the event. Every reasonable effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations in an effective and timely manner.

Parking

On-campus parking at the University of Southern California is limited. We recommend buying a day pass for the Royal Street Structure, located at the intersection of Royal Street and W. Jefferson Blvd. Parking passes are $20/car. For more information about parking at USC, please visit USC Transportation Website:

https://transnet.usc.edu/index.php/daily-and-hourly-parking/
https://transnet.usc.edu/index.php/about-us/entrance-hours/