‘American Trial: The Eric Garner Story’ to open May 29

Starting Friday, May 29, the Rehoboth Beach Film Society will offer virtual cinema access to “American Trial: The Eric Garner Story,” an unprecedented film event about an unscripted courtroom drama presenting a trial that never happened against a New York Police Department officer.

Officer Daniel Pantaleo was videotaped putting Eric Garner in the chokehold that led to his death in 2014. The film employs real-life prosecutors and defense attorneys to conduct a totally unscripted mock trial using real-life evidence, witnesses (including Esaw Snipes-Garner, Eric's widow), expert testimony and rules of criminal procedure. The entire cast are real-life people with the exception of the defendant Pantaleo, the only actor in the film. The audience is the jury, and viewers decide whether Pantaleo should be found guilty or innocent – a verdict the Garner family never had the chance to hear. “American Trial: The Eric Garner Story” premiered as a special presentation at the 2019 New York Film Festival.

Users may choose from a variety of features to screen on their devices. Cost is $8 to $12. The Rehoboth Beach Film Society receives a portion of each registration.

See more information and cinematic trailers for films at rehobothfilm.com.