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The documentary Gasland released in 2010, which portrayed the devastating effects of a method of drilling into shale gas formations called hydraulic fracturing or “fracking”, in rural american communities, garnered mostly positive reviews from film critics and newspapers but also negative responses by fracking lobbyists. The latter resulted in the launch of a website called Energy in Depth and the production of a movie titled TruthLand, by the Independent Petroleum Association of America, concerned with listing false information propagated in Gasland and showing a different view on fracking.

The new film Promised Land, released in December 2012, directed by Gus van Sant (Good Will Hunting, Milk) starring Matt Damon, John Krasinski and Frances McDormand, is the first Hollywood treatment of fracking, much to the displeasure of the oil and gas industry which have yet again launched an almost targeted campaign to discredit the movie even before its release, including buying onscreen ad time in theatres and planning to launch a “Truth Squad” initiative on social media platforms.

The film is set to have its international premiere at the 63th Berlin International Film Festival inFebruary 2013.

For more information on Promised Land and the surrounding discussion:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/dec/17/fracking-lobbyists-matt-damon-promised-land

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