‘Birth of a Nation’ Debuts to Standing Ovation at Toronto Despite Controversy

9 September 2016 8:51 PM, PDT | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »

“The Birth of a Nation” received a standing ovation at its Friday night premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, despite ongoing controversy about the college rape trial of Nate Parker.

Initially viewed as an Oscar frontrunner after a record-breaking deal at the Sundance Film Festival, the film has seen its awards prospects threatened as the public has learned about accusations that Parker sexually assaulted an 18-year-old Penn State student while they were attending college together. He was later acquitted of the charges.

Jean Celestin, Parker’s roommate at the time and the co-writer of “The Birth of a Nation,” was found guilty. His conviction was later overturned on appeal, and the accuser committed suicide in 2012.

Fox Searchlight, which acquired worldwide rights to the film for $17.5 million last spring, has sought to limit Parker’s exposure to the press. A party for the film at the Shangri-La Hotel shortly before »

- Brent Lang

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