Classic Cinemas Lake Theatre Premieres The Lottery June 8, 2010

There is no question that the American public school system is undergoing significant changes these days, and producers of the feature-length documentary The Lottery are partnering with local and national organizations to support select screenings of this emotional and highly politicized film while also announcing National Education Day on June 8th. Among the selected venues is Classic Cinemas’ Lake Theatre, located at 1022 Lake Street in Oak Park, which will screen The Lottery on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.

The Lottery, a feature-length documentary recently premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, explores the struggles and dreams of four families from Harlem and the Bronx in the months leading up to the lottery for Harlem Success Academy, one of the most successful charter schools in New York. The four families cast their lots in a high-stakes draw, where only a small minority of children emerge with a chance at a better future. The four families in this documentary all have the same goal: a high-quality education that will provide their children with the opportunity for a better future.

Directed by Madeleine Sackler and shot by award-winning cinematographer Wolfgang Held, The Lottery uncovers a ferocious debate surrounding the education reform movement. Interviews with politicians and educators explain not only the crisis in public education, but also why it is fixable. In the depths of a weakened economy and educational battle, The Lottery makes the case that any child, given the right educational circumstances, can succeed. For additional information about this feature documentary or to view the trailer, please visit http://thelotteryfilm.com/.