At the Death House Door

Director: Steve James & Peter Gilbert
Runtime: 98 minutes
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screening in: Spotlight Premieres

Screening Times

4:00 PM, Sunday March 9th - Paramount
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1:00 PM, Wednesday March 12th - Austin Convention Ctr
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everything subject to change

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Synopsis:
AT THE DEATH HOUSE DOOR follows the remarkable career journey of Carroll Pickett, who served 15 years as the death house chaplain to the infamous 'Walls' prison unit in Huntsville, Texas. During that time he presided over 95 executions, including the very first lethal injection done anywhere in the world. After each execution, Pickett recorded an audiotape account of that fateful day. The film also tells the story of Carlos De Luna, a convict whose execution bothered Pickett more than any other. Pickett firmly believed the man was innocent and two Chicago Tribune reporters turn up evidence that strongly suggests he was right.

Director's Bio:
STEVE JAMES is best known as the director, producer, and co-editor of HOOP DREAMS (1994), which won every major documentary award and a Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award and earned James the DGA Directing Award. James also served as an executive producer, a story director, and series editor of THE NEW AMERICANS, which won the 2004 IDA Award for Best Limited Series. He also has directed and produced other award-winning films, including STEVIE (2003), which won numerous festivals and was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award; and REEL PARADISE(2005), which premiered at Sundance. He also produced and edited THE WAR TAPES (2006), which won the grand prizes at the Tribeca Film Festival and BritDoc.

PETER GILBERT is one of the filmmakers who made Hoop Dreams, serving as a Producer and DP. He produced and directed, With All Deliberate Speed (2004), which was nominated for a Prime Time Emmy for Distinguished Work in Non- Fiction Film. Gilbert executive produced the Sundance Festival Grand Jury and Audience award winning film, The Gods Tired of Us (2005) and the award winning, Emmy nominated, Deadline (2004). Earlier work includes the Emmy Award winning documentary Vietnam: Long Time Coming (1998) for which he won the DGA Award for Best Directing; Stevie (2002), as co-DP and co-producer; Married in America (2002), as DP; and Barbara Kopple's Academy Award winning, American Dream (1991), as DP.