At the launch of The Co-operative’s rebrand at London Royal Horticultural Halls, TPFF co-founder Deborah Burton and The Co-operative Group’s Head of Community and Campaigns Michael Fairclough sign their first year sponsorship agreement. Any one can join in and become part of the picture. To be part of the picture and start funding films click here to find out more…
Author Archives: TPNS
Danny Glover shows his support
Hollywood actor and producer Danny Glover shows his support for Tipping Point Film Fund.
He says:
- I’m fully supportive of what Tipping Point Film Fund is doing. To use the medium of film to move and inspire people to get involved in important social justice issues is critical. In the US, we have an opportunity right now – with an administration that is hopefully listening – to exert an influence on how policy is shaped and implemented. We must make use of that opportunity and momentum and ensure our voices are heard.
- – Danny Glover – actor, producer and campaigner.
Tipping Point Film Fund co-founders previously campaigned with Christian Aid and Danny Glover on the critically acclaimed film ‘Bamako’, by Abderrahmane Sissako, which was executive produced by Glover and his producing partner Joslyn Barnes of Louverture Films. In the below clip he and Joslyn talk about the issues the film addresses.
Burma VJ: The Saffron Premiere
Burma VJ: The Saffron Premiere
The Co-operative is bringing to life the film Burma VJ: Reporting from a Closed Country, the award-winning story of the continuing fight for democracy in Burma. The film tracks the brave new breed of young ‘video journalists’ who, using hidden cameras, put their lives on the line to tell the real story of the 2007 Burmese uprisings and the subsequent repression by the ruling military regime.
On the evening of 14 July, The Co-operative is launching the movie with an exciting film event. Cinemas across the country will be linked live to the BAFTA in London to create the ‘Saffron Premiere’, so named after the distinctive orange robes of the Burmese monks. The evening will include a full film screening, as well as a one-off chance to join a live debate with the makers of the film.
The launch of Burma VJ marks 10 years of The Co-operative campaigning for democracy in Burma. This has included The Co-operative Bank’s decision to decline finance to any commercial organisation with a significant presence in Burma, and more recently The Co-operative Travel’s decision to delist the country as a tourist destination, as well as consistent awareness raising amongst our members and the general public.
Find out more:
- The Co-operative as Primary Sponsors of Tipping Point Film Fund
- Burma VJ Movie Screenings
City Circle welcome film as a way to make change
Friday 19th June – Maxim Sansour from the Open Bethlehem campaign and Deborah Burton, co-founder Tipping Point Film Fund talk at the City Circle. The City Circle is a charity that promotes the development of a distinct Muslim identity through debate as well as practical and progressive solutions to community problems.
Open Bethlehem is an international public relations campaign set-up to address the state of emergency in Bethlehem and is the campaign linked to Road to Bethlehem. The campaign aims to bring world attention to the crisis facing the city by reaching out to decision-makers, faith leaders and the media and acting as a route into Bethlehem for initiatives of all kinds. Above all, they aim to build a positive legacy for Palestine and the wider region by reasserting Bethlehem’s unique historical character as a living example of an open and multi-faith Middle East.
- Open Bethlehem is a non-violent attempt to save a city that belongs to many in the world. It is unconscionable that Bethlehem should be allowed to die slowly from strangulation.
- – Archbishop Desmond Tutu
- Open Bethlehem is an admirable project.
- – President Jimmy Carter
Open Bethlehem is an initiative set up to address the state of emergency in Bethlehem, Palestine, that has secured global attention as well as endorsements from such world figures as Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Jimmy Carter. Open Bethlehem aims to bring international support to a ‘Save the City’ campaign to help reverse the erosion of Bethlehem’s historic character and the dissipation of a community that stands as a living example of a multi-faith and multi-ethnic Middle East.
To find out more about ‘Road to Bethlehem’ film and the Open Bethlehem campaign – read on…
Maxim Sansour is a founding board member of Open Bethlehem and a former communications advisor to the United Nations, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Palestinian Central Elections Commission.
Redistributing the power
Here at Tipping Point Film Fund we are all about harnessing the power of films to drive and build campaigning movements. Recently we’ve been intrigued by the possibility of harnessing another great power – that of the sun…. This is why we are developing a new film on the power of solar.
Here Comes the Sun is inspired by the many visionaries around the world who have led the way on pushing for renewable energy to play a MUCH more prominent role in global energy provision and includes scientists and business people, activists and charities.
One such person is London based Jeremy Leggett, of Solar Century. He has recently edited a new book:-
The Solar Century
The past, present and world-changing future of solar energy
‘[Leggett has] done more to change attitudes towards the (solar) resource than almost any other individual’
Financial Times
Clean, silent, renewable and climate-friendly solar power is the holy grail of energy. And there’s no shortage of daylight out there: enough falls on the surface of the planet each day to power human society many thousands of times over.
Yet there are still many myths about solar – especially the ideas that it’s prohibitively expensive, impractical for countries with cloudy skies, and will always require fossil-fuel stations on standby.
In the first definitive book on the subject, Jeremy Leggett (founder and Executive Chairman of the UK’s leading solar company, Solarcentury) debunks these myths. More importantly, he shows how solar energy can be the backbone of a renaissance in which, after the current credit crunch and the impending energy crunch, the world economy will be run on renewable energy, and the worst effects of global warming staved off as a consequence.
Above all, the book provides a positive set of visions which extend well beyond the provision of electricity, heat, and water for anyone with a curiosity about solar power and an interest in our planet’s future.
Read more:
– see the impact a 4 degree temperature rise would have on the planet
– how solar power from the Sahara is a step closer
Film-makers meet campaigners
Deborah Burton, co-founder of Tipping Point Film Fund, and Black Gold Producers and Directors Marc and Nick Francis talk about harnessing the power of films and campaigns on The Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation website. Click here to watch the clip (scroll to bottom of page).
Not got time to watch the clip? Nick Francis has this to say:
- Tipping Point is crucial to ensure more films like Black Gold continue to made and now is the perfect time for this fund to be launched
- – Nick Francis, Producer/Director – Black Gold.
To find out more about the new film from the Producers / Directors of Black Gold click here.
Live stream
Live Stream from Tipping Point Film Fund evening in Soho.
http://www.ustream.tv/flash/live/1/1807691Video chat rooms at Ustream
CHAT
Thank You To Supporters From Leila Sansour
Dear Friends
Behind me in this picture is Bethlehem, the little town that you and I believe can tell the story of the whole of Palestine. You are getting this e-mail because of the support you have shown me over the past six years as I worked to turn the story of Open Bethlehem into a film – The Road to Bethlehem. Today we are moving into the next phase of the challenge – an audience outreach campaign to work alongside the film’s distribution. The release is planned for Christmas 2011.
Many of you know that my film, The Road to Bethlehem, has already been shown once at the Dubai international Film Festival, and I am delighted to report back that the screening has generated great interest from potential partners worldwide, from European and US cinemas, to President Carter’s Centre and beyond.
In the coming months we will be planning regional meetings among various stakeholders to help shape our plans. Many of uou will invited to take part alongside political groups, our funding partners as well as industry professionals. So, please stay tuned for our updates.
As ever, our plans are ambitious and they will be impossible to realise without your renewed commitment and support. We are looking to raise a minimum of £25,000 to kick start the campaign and make sure that our base includes influential individuals and institutions in the US. We also need urgent help with an additional sum of £15,000 to go towards the release. This sum will allow us to cover copyright fees for the stunning archive footage and original music featured in the film. It will also allow us to give the film the final cinematic look that will make it so much more attractive to mainstream cinemas. My very funny friend Jeremy Hardy has a few words to say to you on this subject. I am hoping his wisdom will prove persuasive.
Jeremy Hardy’s words of wisdom.
We are keen to speak to each one of you to discuss details so please get in touch if you think you can help. I am currently in London on +44 (0)7814937743. Otherwise you can visit the website of The Tipping Point Film Fund- my key partner in the UK and encourage your friends to donate. It is very easy.
For Bank Transfers (possibly the most convenient) please email deborah@tippingpointfilmfund.com so she can pass relevant bank details to you.
I would like to use this opportunity to thank you all again for all the kindness and support you showed me over the years and to urge you to join us on the next stage of this journey- The Road to Bethlehem.
My warmest regards to all of you
Leila
Tipping Point North South 