February 8, 2011

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Join filmmaker Jenny Abel and her father, infamous media prankster Alan Abel, when UAB's Alys Stephens Center screens her film, "Abel Raises Cain," as part of the Southern Circuit Film Series.

"Abel Raises Cain" will show at 7 p.m. Feb. 22, 2011, in the center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Abel and her father will answer questions from the audience afterward. Tickets are $12. Call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org.

"Abel Raises Cain" is an unprecedented glimpse into Abel's life and bizarre career, told from the viewpoint of his daughter Jenny and co-director Jeff Hockett. During the past half-century, Abel has made a name for himself with stunts that are ridiculous enough to be believable, especially to a media that feeds on salacious, far-fetched stories. His hoaxes made news on notable networks and programs, such as "Today," "Tonight," BBC, "Good Morning America," "20/20," "48 Hours," National Public Radio and CNN Financial News, according to the film's website.

"Abel Raises Cain" takes the audience on a rollercoaster ride through myriad elaborate hoaxes and schemes that Abel played during the years, all designed to provoke and amuse while making people question everything that they see, hear and read. It was named one of the top 50 documentaries of the decade by "The Documentary Blog," and was a Grand Jury Award-winner at the Slamdance Film Festival. Slate.com called it "an invigorating and often hysterical look at a gifted comic and the nation of dupes he continues to use as his medium." Read about his hoaxes at http://abelraisescain.com/.

Southern Circuit is the nation's only regional tour of independent filmmakers, providing communities with an interactive way of experiencing independent film. Screenings will take place throughout the season with each filmmaker present. This screening is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.

About UAB's Alys Stephens Center

The Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, part of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, is one of the Southeast's premier performing arts centers, presenting the world's best artists in music, dance, theatre, comedy, film, and family entertainment. The ASC's mission is to be a place where the entire community experiences and engages in the arts. The ASC is home to ArtPlay, a new arts education center, as well as UAB departments of Theatre and Music and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra.