The new film about the Nat Tuner slave rebellion, Birth of a Nation is running into serious headwinds on the eve of its release due to the growing public awareness that the film’s star and director Nate Parker was accused of rape in 1999. The American Film Institute has canceled this Friday’s screening of the Fox Searchlight film that was to have been followed by a Q&A with Parker. Daily Variety reports that the school’s dean said the film school would hold a session on campus to discuss issues raised by the film and by the rape allegation against Parker. The movie was a smash at Sundance where it drew a record bid of more than $17 million. Parker and a fellow member of the Penn State wrestling team were accused of raping an 18-year-old girl. Parker was acquitted because he had had consensual sex prior to the alleged incident with the victim. His teammate was convicted, but charges were dropped after the girl decided not to testify at another trial.
