June 2, 2004

By ANTHONY BREZNICAN / Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — The trailer for Michael Moore's incendiary new documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" debuts in theaters Friday, but the curious can find it on his Web site a day earlier.

The Academy Award-winning filmmaker's new movie criticizes President Bush's response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, portrays the Iraq war as a conflict that has unnecessarily endangered the American military, and connects the Bush family to Osama bin Laden's.

"Fahrenheit 9/11" recently won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

Before it was ever screened, it attracted controversy when Moore announced the Walt Disney Co. had refused to let its Miramax Films division distribute the movie.

Miramax chiefs Bob and Harvey Weinstein bought the $6 million movie personally and are distributing it through a partnership with Lions Gate Films and IFC Films.

The film's publicist, Shawn Sachs, said the trailer was set to be posted on Moore's Web site, www.michaelmoore.com.

"Fahrenheit 9/11" debuts in theaters June 25.