Synopsis
Thirty minutes of footage from the film were presented as evidence during the Leveson Inquiry into media ethics in the UK.
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Synopsis
Chris Atkins, director of Starsuckers, orchestrated a series of fabricated celebrity stories, including a claim about singer Avril Lavigne sleeping in a nightclub. The 2009 documentary reveals how tabloid newspapers in the UK accepted these stories without verification. Premiering at the British Film Institute's 53rd Film Festival, the film later contributed evidence to the Leveson Inquiry. Legal threats from publicist Max Clifford emerged just days before its release, and several producers faced criminal convictions related to tax fraud linked to the film's production.
Deep Dive
Why Watch
- See how false celebrity stories are created and spread.
- Find out about the legal threats faced by the filmmakers.
- Meet the traders convicted of tax fraud linked to the film.
Did You Know
- On October 23, 2009, the makers received a legal threat from Max Clifford's law firm.
- In December 2015, three City traders were convicted for tax fraud related to Starsuckers.
- In June 2016, two producers of Starsuckers were jailed for tax fraud.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed the documentary Starsuckers?
Starsuckers was directed by Chris Atkins.
What legal action was taken against the makers of Starsuckers?
On 23 October 2009, the makers received a legal threat from the law firm Carter-Ruck on behalf of publicist Max Clifford.
What were the convictions related to the production of Starsuckers?
In December 2015, three City traders and their accountant were convicted of conspiring to cheat HM Revenue & Customs, and in June 2016, two producers were also convicted of the same charge.
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