So Al Gore AND The Dixie Chicks will be at the Oscars?

How AWESOME would THAT be!?!?!?

From Hollywood Reporter:

By Gregg Goldstein

NEW YORK -- Barbara Kopple and Cecilia Peck's politically charged documentary "Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing" has been picked up for worldwide distribution by the Weinstein Co. A release is tentatively scheduled for the fall, possibly right before the November elections.

The film revolves around the aftermath of singer Natalie Maines' statement at a 2003 London concert, where she said, "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas." It chronicles death threats, political attacks and radio boycotts against the band, and that could make the film a political hot potato as well as potential ammo should longtime Democratic party supporter Harvey Weinstein become involved in the fall political campaigns.

Asked why Cabin Creek chose to go with the Weinstein Co., Peck said, "They made a great offer," though no figures were disclosed. Such companies as Focus Features and Picturehouse expressed interest in the docu a few months ago.

Sources involved in the negotiations said some parties in the docu's camp wanted to screen the entire film for several indie distributors, while others only wanted a 15-minute highlight reel to be shown. Eventually only two final bidders were allowed to see a complete rough cut of the film: the Weinstein Co. and Sony Pictures Classics, a sister company of the Dixie Chicks' record label.

"I am extremely proud to be associated with this film because it's not only an outstanding and creative piece of work, but it also exposes our responsibility as Americans to confront our fundamental right to freedom of speech," Weinstein said.

Kopple said plans for a grassroots promotional campaign are still being discussed, and Peck said the film is likely to be a hot topic in the approaching elections. "It deals with freedom of speech, censorship and other important issues," Kopple said. "It looks at the cost of standing up for what you believe in."

The docu from Kopple's Cabin Creek Films still is being completed, but is set to be a Gala Presentation at next month's Toronto International Film Festival. In addition to chronicling the lives of Maines and bandmates Martie Maguire and Emily Robison, Kopple said the docu features clips from 15 of the Dixie Chicks songs and a new one written especially for the film, though no soundtrack is planned. "You definitely feel like you're in the front row of a Dixie Chicks concert," Peck said.

Weinstein Co. exec vp and co-head of acquisitions and co-productions Michelle Krumm brought the project to the studio. Krumm, co-president of production Michael Cole and executive vp business and legal affairs Barry Littman negotiated the agreement with CAA and Dixie Chicks manager Simon Renshaw on behalf of the band.