with Steve Kurtz of Critical Art Ensemble, Siva Vaidhyanathan, and Johanna Drucker

Lynn Hershman Leeson’s documentary tells the story of artist and college professor Steve Kurtz, who faces up to 20 years in prison for suspected bio-terrorism after medics became suspicious of his art materials when responding to an emergency call in his home in May of 2004. Soon after, a Hazmat team from Quantico arrested Kurtz, placing his work under investigation and holding him as a suspected terrorist. Hershman Leeson skillfully weaves dramatic reenactment (with actors Tilda Swinton and Peter Coyote), news footage, animation, testimonials, and footage of Kurtz himself to develop this unconventional examination of the power of post 9/11 paranoia and its ability to influence both art and justice.