Spotlight news

We’ve had a busy start to 2010 – lots of film development and event planning for spring and summer activity including project work on films The Road to Bethlehem and Cashback (see updates below). We hosted a preview screening of the new Michael Moore film Capitalism: a love story with guest speaker Ken Loach; attended the premieres of Food, Inc. and Dirty Oil, took part in Fairtrade Fortnight with film screenings in a number of venues across South London, plus we’ve excitingly cut a ‘groovy’ festival deal for the summer; watch this space for more info next time.

Essential viewing!

At our preview screening of the new Michael Moore film Capitalism: a love story in March, guest speaker, film director Ken Loach, spoke about his support for Tipping Point Film Fund’s work and the role it can play as a new model for funding social issue feature documentary films – like Moore’s. Capitalism: a love story is definitely one to watch. It takes a blistering look at how the financial crash came about and the devastating impact on the lives of ordinary people and explores a taboo question: What is the price that America pays for its love of capitalism? What he finds are the all-too-familiar symptoms of a love affair gone astray: lies, abuse, betrayal… and 14,000 jobs being lost every day….

Dirty Oil, released on March 19, launched with a live satellite linked-up premiere and panel debate to a number of cinemas across the UK and is another Dogwoof and The Co-operative collaboration. We’ve signed up for the outreach campaign supported by the Co-operative and WWF, and would really encourage you to do the same! The film – here – seen through the eyes of scientists, ‘big oil’ officials, politicians, doctors, environmentalists, and aboriginal citizens, takes a good hard look at the Canadian Alberta tar sands (the biggest supplier of US oil) and its impact on the environment and indigenous communities like the Beaver Lake Cree. This film is a ‘must see’ so find out where you can catch it – here.

Our last recommendation is another recent Dogwoof film release, the thought provoking and powerful Food, Inc. Robert Kenner’s film lifts the veil on the food industry and exposes how a handful of corporations control our food supply, producing it on massive ‘factory farms’ and processing it in industrial plants. The film is a wake up call to consumers everywhere to learn more and take action to reverse the massively damaging impact of these mega-trends in food. To see the trailer and find out about screenings go to www.foodincmovie.co.uk

Project news

The Road to Bethlehem
Just in this week we are excited to have a new clip from the film which is being edited in Bethlehem by director Leila Sansour. In this clip, she reflects on the impact the wall has made as it slowly encircles and cuts off her home town. While Leila has been editing, Tipping Point Film Fund has continued to raise funds for the film’s completion and outreach campaign which will run alongside the film on its release. We hope The Road to Bethlehem will be in cinemas for Christmas 2010.

Cashback
This film will be a landmark cinematic feature-documentary thriller about illicit financial flows, telling the story of how money is drained out of developing countries by a network of bankers, accountants, and lawyers, into secret off-shore Western bank accounts, undermining the lives of millions of people. How does this happen? Why is no-one paying attention? Cashback will peel away the secrecy to reveal one of the 21st century’s biggest scandals. The production funding effort has now started as we seek to raise the budget for this film. If you would like to know more about how you can help support this project, get in touch here. Or, if you want to know more about some of these issues check out Christian Aid’s Big Tax Return campaign, the Tax Justice Network and Global Witness.

Dates for your diary

18 April – Birmingham and 25 April – London
Tipping Point Film Fund in partnership with Christian Aid and the African Development Forum will screen the recent BBC2 programme ‘God Bless you Barack Obama‘ in Birmingham and London, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A with distinguished guests including the film’s writer / presenter Dr. Robert Beckford. The events are free, for your invitation click here. These events will also explore how film can act as a means to raise awareness, debate and action on key international issues.

9 – 11 April – BFI Southbank, London
The Sheffield Doc/Fest on Tour will launch at BFI Southbank on 9 – 11 April – we look forward to seeing you there! The tour features some of the most thought-provoking documentaries from 2009 including DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus’ Kings of Pastry and Once Upon a Time Proletarian by Xiaolu Guo. For more information and to book tickets go to BFI.

And finally…

We would love for you to get more involved with Tipping Point Film Fund. We need your help to be able to carry on supporting challenging films that inspire campaigning. Please do stay in touch and visit our website to make a donation if you can.

With best wishes,
from Deborah, Emma, Thea and all at Tipping Point Film Fund.

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