Cinema Columbus Film Festival Announces 2024 Opening Night Film
Tickets Go on Sale Today for False Positive, about Ohio State and Olympic sprinter Butch Reynolds
Posted: February 27, 2024
Presented by CAPA, the Cinema Columbus Film Festival today announced its opening night film, False Positive, a documentary about Olympic sprinter Butch Reynolds from Akron-based filmmaker Ismail Al-Amin, to screen Wednesday, April 24 at 7 pm at the Southern Theatre.
False Positive, a yet-to-be-released ESPN Films 30 for 30 documentary, is the untold story of the fastest man in the world, Butch Reynolds, whose legendary career was derailed by a faulty drug test in one of the greatest injustices in American sports history.
Monte Carlo, 1990. The world record holder in the 400-meters, Butch Reynolds, takes a routine drug test that comes back positive for the anabolic steroid Nandrolone. When Butch challenges the results, the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) publicly admits their lab technician mixed up Reynold’s urine specimen with another athlete’s, leading to a “false positive.” In an outrageous about-turn that would lead to one of the greatest injustices in American sports, the IAAF refuses to administer another test, claiming the lab “corrected their mistake.” Instead, they label Reynolds a “dirty athlete,” banning him from competition during the most vital years of his career.
Moviegoers are invited to stay after the screening for a Q&A with Al-Amin and Reynolds.
“As soon as I saw False Positive for the first time, I knew it would be a perfect fit for our opening night. The film’s tone and spirit embody so much of what makes art powerful - that storytelling can be a tool to reclaim and reenergize narratives, particularly a narrative around the tumultuous professional and personal journey of Ohio legend Butch Reynolds,” Cinema Columbus Festival Director Brett Reiter said. “It's an honor to have the festival act as a platform for this important homegrown story, as we kick off the multi-day celebration of the creativity, artistry, and impact of independent film.”
Tickets to False Positive are $10 and can be purchased in-person at the CBUSArts Ticket Center (39 E. State St.), online at www.CinemaColumbus.com, or by phone at (614) 469-0939. Pre-purchasing is recommended, but if inventory allows, tickets may also be purchased at the door.
Festival passes, which include admission to all festival screenings as well as a gift bag of Cinema Columbus and CAPA-related items, are also available for $200. Tickets to individual screenings will go on sale in March.
The full schedule for the 2024 Cinema Columbus Film Festival will be announced in March. Festival dates are April 24-28. The festival will present a total of 25 screenings involving nearly 50 feature and short films at seven locations, including the Drexel Theatre, Gateway Film Center, Studio 35 Cinema & Drafthouse, Grandview Theater & Drafthouse, McConnell Arts Center, the Wexner Center for the Arts, and the Southern Theatre.
The 2024 Cinema Columbus Film Festival is presented through the generous support of CENCAM, Breezeline, Gateway Film Center, and Ohio Arts Council, with media support from WCBE, WOSU, and Orange Barrel Media.
About Director Ismail
Al-Amin Ismail Al-Amin is a veteran educator, concert promoter, and social entrepreneur with 20 years of experience as a teacher and professor in Akron, Ohio’s public, charter schools and universities. Al-Amin’s successful dual career path in education, art and culture supports his innovative approach for professional learning. Al-Amin has extensive experience as an instructional coach, consultant and speaker working with teachers in urban districts across the country and presenting at education conferences. He provides training in the areas of hip-hop education, culturally responsive and sustainable teaching. He is also the founder and president of Keepers of the Art, Inc (KOTA). Founded in January 2006 in Akron, Ohio, KOTA is a non-profit organization designed to preserve the integrity of urban communities through progressive education and live entertainment outlets. Al-Amin has accomplished a lifelong dream of making documentary films. In 2020, Al-Amin founded and established Al-Amin Films, LLC, a media production company that focuses on documentary films and branded video content. Al-Amin holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Akron and a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of the District of Columbia.
