The US State Department has been forced to defend the promotion by its embassy in Canberra of the controversial documentary Dirty Wars.
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Dirty Wars, about covert US counter-terrorism operations including targeted killings carried out under the Obama administration, is being screened at the Canberra International Film Festival.
US media commentators have called out the embassy for touting free tickets to the documentary, but a State Department spokeswoman said the US supported freedom of speech.
"Would you like FREE tickets to Blackfish or Dirty Wars at the CIFF—Canberra this weekend? Get in touch!" the embassy Tweeted.
US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki was asked at Wednesday's press briefing in Washington DC why the embassy was giving away tickets to a film "highly critical of the administration".
Ms Psaki said the embassy had received tickets to a number of films, including Dirty Wars, as part of its support for the film festival.
"As you know, we have public diplomacy and outreach programs around the world, including in Canberra," Ms Psaki told reporters.
"Many of those programs around the world promote independent films, promote Hollywood films. That's something we're doing here.
“There’s a film festival going on where they’re showing, as I understand it, dozens of movies, including 16 US films. We’ve provided some funding for that.
“We believe in freedom of speech. We’re not judging or advocating or endorsing any of the movies, but we are just simply encouraging people to participate in the film festival.”
A spokeswoman for the embassy in Canberra said the tickets have already been given away, and no further comment would be made as Ms Psaki spoke for the embassy.
AAP, canberratimes.com.au
