Traficant documentary to debut next month in Akron

YOUNGSTOWN

A documentary about James A. Traficant Jr., likely the Mahoning Valley’s most controversial politician of the last half century, will get its premiere next month at the Cleveland International Film Festival.

“I wrote a treatment in 2009 and starting filming a little bit that year,” said Eric Murphy, the film’s director, producer, writer and editor. “But my fascination with Traficant started as a paperboy rushing to open newspaper bundles and look for Traficant on the front page.”

“Traficant: The Congressman of Crimetown” is a 90-minute documentary.

The first screening will be at 6:20 p.m. March 21 at the Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St. in that city. It will then be shown at 4 p.m. March 22 and at 11:55 a.m. March 23 at the festival’s main location, Tower City Cinemas, 230 W. Huron Road in Cleveland.

“What better place to have the premiere than Northeast Ohio?” said Murphy, who grew up on the west side of Warren and is a Youngstown State University graduate.

Read more about the film in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.