With "the Hunting Ground" set for a limited release in theaters over the next few weeks, a large volume of U.S. colleges and universities want to screen the film on their campuses.
Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering, the filmmakers behind the campus rape documentary, confirmed to the Huffington Post that more than 1,000 schools have requested a screening. After its gradual rollout in select theaters, the documentary is slated to eventually air on CNN.
Dick and Ziering hope "the Hunting Ground" sparks effective policy changes in how colleges handle sexual assault complaints and investigations. The two teamed up in 2012 to make "Invisible War," a documentary that examined sexual assault in the U.S. Military.
"With more than 1,000 invitations to screen 'The Hunting Ground' on college campuses across the country, it's a promising sign of leadership and courage inside the ranks of higher education," Dick and Ziering said in a statement to the HP.
The U.S. Education Department is currently investigating nearly 100 schools for Title IX and Clery Act complaints relating to sexual assault and misconduct. Inevitably some of the schools under investigation also requested a screening of the film.
Among the numerous schools that want a screening of the film, 52 have confirmed theirs with RADiUS, distributor for "the Hunting Ground." The film debuted earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival and the HP previously reported it left its audience noticeably distraught.
Highlighted in the film multiple cases where a student claimed he or she was sexually assaulted and that their school did not adequately investigate the matter or adjudicate the person found responsible.
But the film has not gained universal support.
Florida State University (FSU) released a statement last week ahead of the film's release in two U.S. theaters. Former FSU student Erica Kinsman details her complaint against the school's Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Jameis Winston. It is the first time she confirmed herself as the alleged victim, but FSU said the film misrepresents the case altogether.
Also featured in the film will be the University of North Carolina and Columbia University complaints.
