Tag Archives: Greenbelt

TPFF films at Greenbelt 27-29 August

TPFF films at Greenbelt 27-29 August

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It’s Greenbelt time again! Find out more about  the amazing Greenbelt Arts Festival, 26-29th August here –  line up includes  Billy Bragg, The Unthanks, Kate Rusby, Don Letts, and the legendary Mavis Staples.

Once more, Tipping Point Film Fund is looking forward to hosting a documentary film strand as part of Greenbelt’s film programme this year.  The films reflect the theme for this year’s festival – ‘Dreams of Home’ – and will screen at the same time, 2.30pm, over the three days.  Each in their own way, tell stories of struggle and hope in the face of extreme adversity.

Budrus and Son of Babylon are screened in association with Dogwoof – our partner for these events.

All films are screened at the FILM venue.

TPFF’S GREENBELT DOCUMENTARY FILM PROGRAMME

Saturday 27th August   2.30-5pm. Iraq: War Love God & Madness – by Mohamed Al Daradji

Truth is stranger than fiction as we are led on a personal journey into Iraq, by director Mohamed Al-Daradji and his crew as, in 2004,  they attempt to shoot a feature film encircled by war and senseless violence. Undaunted by the volatile dangers this is an extraordinary feature documentary.

We are delighted to have producer Isabelle Stead join us for the post film discussion/Q&A.

More info and clip here: http://www.greenbelt.org.uk/festival/contributors/84660

Sunday 28th August 2.30-5pm. Budrus –  by Julia Bacha

A multi-award winning, action-packed documentary about a Palestinian community organizer, Ayed Morrar, who unites local Fatah and Hamas members along with Israeli supporters in an unarmed movement to save his village of Budrus from destruction by Israel’s Separation Barrier.

We are delighted to have Linda Ramsden, the UK Director of ICAHD UK, join us for the post film discussion. She has recently visited Budrus and will share her recent experiences with us in light of the film, as well as explain more about her extraordinary work with  ICAHD UK (Israeli Committee against house demolitions).

More info and clip here: http://www.greenbelt.org.uk/festival/contributors/84659

With special thanks to Dogwoof for their support of this event

Monday 29th August 2.30pm. Our Generation – by Sinem Saban and Damien Curtis.

Our Generation is a rollercoaster journey into the heart of  the struggle between Australia’s Indigenous peoples and the Austrialian government – a story most certainly not just about the past, but the present-day. A hidden shame that is pushing the world’s oldest living culture to the edge, reveals the shocking policies being pursued by the Australian government to remove them from their homelands.

More info and clip here: http://www.greenbelt.org.uk/festival/contributors/84661

Saturday 27th August 5pm  – Son of Bablyon

We are also screening Son of Babylon by Mohamed Al Daradji, which is the latest, highly acclaimed fiction film by this prolific director, also produced by Isabelle Stead.

The film will be followed by Q&A with Isabelle Stead, who will also tell us  more about the campaign that the film has created: Iraq’s Missing – http://www.iraqsmissing.org/

More info and clip here: http://sonofbabylon.co.uk/

With thanks to Dogwoof for their support of this event

Autumnal greetings – September’s newsletter

Autumnal greetings – September’s newsletter

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Spotlight News

 

Welcome to our latest newsletter… the summer is almost over and we’ve packed a whole lot of stuff in. But before we start with our update we’d like to highlight a new and exciting TPFF venture – the launch of our very own film club!

 

New film club starts with ‘Life and Debt’
The TPFF Film Club – which we’re launching at The Lexi Cinema in Kensal Rise on 20 Sept – will be a regular event where TPFF supporters, relevant NGO networks and the general public can get together to watch a specifically chosen feature-documentary (usually related to the news agenda and campaigning) and enjoy a lively panel discussion or Q&A with guest speakers. The event will be free to TPFF regular givers and one-off annual donors of £60 or more. To find out more about our first screening – Stephanie Black’s award-winning documentary Life and Debt – and panel discussion ‘when will rich countries own up to their responsibility in keeping developing nations poor in order to grow their own wealth?’ visit our website or watch the trailer. The panel includes the broadcaster and academic, Dr Robert Beckford; the Director of Jubilee Debt Campaign, Nick Dearden and Dr Patricia Daley, lecturer in Human Geography at Oxford University.

 

TPFF summer round-up
Over the summer we teamed up with Dogwoof and the solar-powered Groovy Movie Picture House and held screenings at Glastonbury, Lounge on the Farm and The Wickham Festival. We screened Great African Scandal for UNITE trade union, and in association with the brilliant Lexi Cinema, we hosted a sold-out screening and panel discussion of Oliver Stone’s ‘South of the Border’. We also had a great time at the 25,000 strong Greenbelt Arts Festival where we hosted four screenings and Q&As over three days – to find out more about the films and speakers, including a video-message from Jeremy Hardy, visit our website.

 

Ones to watch!

No Impact Man – September
No Impact Man (guilty New York liberal, Colin Beavan, decides to completely eliminate his personal impact on the environment for a year) will be hitting cinemas around the country from 3rd September. Watch the trailer at www.noimpactdoc.com or to find a screening near you go to Dogwoof.

 

Budrus – September
Budrusthemovie follows a Palestinian leader who manages to unite Fatah, Hamas and Israelis in an unarmed movement to save his village from destruction. Success appears to elude him until his 15-year-old daughter jumps into the fray.  Another Dogwoof film released 24 September.

 

Collapse – October
Collapse is an astonishing portrait of radical thinker Michael Ruppert – exploring his apocalyptic vision of the future, spanning the crises in economics, energy, environment and more.

 

Project news

 

The Road to Bethlehem
We are delighted to have secured the grant support of the charitable arm of McCabe Travel – a company specialising in pilgrimages to the Holy Land.  McCabe’s support will enable the post-production costs of ‘The Road to Bethlehem’ to be met. McCabe Travel will also be an outreach partner on the film in 2011 and we very much look forward to our collaboration highlighting the need for visitors to go to Palestine to witness as well as appreciate all that its people have to share.

 

‘The Road to Bethlehem’ is in final stages of editing and we are now turning our attention to raising funds for the international outreach campaign to accompany the film on its release in 2011. Find out about our latest fund-raising initiative and how you can help us to raise money by hosting your own screenings!   Watch the latest clip from Leila Sansour to find out why this is important, and if you need any more encouragement find out what Jeremy Hardy had to say at the Greenbelt Arts Festival.

 

Cashback
TPFF is part of the effort to raise production funding for ‘Cashback’ a film by Marc and Nick Francis. The film will tell 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.  If you would like to know more or donate to the film’s funding, contact us at info@tippingpointfilmfund.com. In the meantime, Marc and Nick’s latest film ‘When China Met Africa’ was screened as part of the BBC’s Storyville strand in July – you can find out more here! To find out more about Tax Justice visit The Tax Justice Network, Christian Aid or Action Aid.

 

Save the date – Tipping Point screenings

 

Monday 20th September, TPFF Film Club at The Lexi Cinema (Kensal Rise, London), screening of ‘Life and Debt’ followed by panel discussion. To find out more about the film and the panel discussion ‘when will rich countries own up to their responsibility in keeping developing nations poor in order to grow their own wealth?’ click here, or to buy your ticket go to The Lexi Cinema. Tickets are free to TPFF regular givers!

 

Tuesday 26th October, Inn on the Green (Ladbroke Grove, London)
A screening of ‘Inside the Revolution: a journey into the heart of Venezuela’. This 2009 film will be followed by Q&A with the director Pablo Navarrete. Please check our website in the next few weeks for more details.

 

‘…a rare film about Venezuela, a country in extraordinary transition. Watch this film because it is honest and fair and respectful of those who want to be told the truth about an epic attempt, flaws and all, to claim back the humanity of ordinary people.” – John Pilger (Journalist, author and documentary filmmaker).

 

Monday 29 November, TPFF Film Club, The Lexi Cinema (Kensal Rise, London)
Programme tbc.  Admission free to TPFF regular givers!

 

And later this week….

 

Good Pitch UK 2010
Friday 10th September (London)
Observer Passes now on sale! The Good Pitch brings together documentary filmmakers with NGOs, foundations, philanthropies, brands and media around leading social issues – to forge coalitions and campaigns that are good for all these partners, good for the films and good for society.  Find out more at Good Pitch UK.

 

Well, that’s all from us folks and very much hope to see some of you on the 20th!

 

With best wishes,

 

from Debs, Emma, Jen and us all at Tipping Point Film Fund

 

PS –   Find out more about joining our network of regular givers – 360
What TPFF did at Greenbelt on August bank holiday weekend

What TPFF did at Greenbelt on August bank holiday weekend

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We’re back from the Greenbelt Arts Festival in Cheltenham and it was full-on as ever, but very rewarding. Greenbelt is a great audience, packed with all kinds of people who really care about political issues, social change and campaigning and who want make big change happen – just like we do!

 

We screened four films, each followed by a live panel debate or Q&A! In case you missed any of them we’ve written a little round-up below. We’ve also posted some photos and a great clip from Jeremy Hardy – talking about Tipping Point Film Fund and The Road to Bethlehem. We’ve got loads of content still to upload – so watch this space!
Thanks to Dogwoof and Good With Film for The Vanishing of the Bees, Burma VJ and The Yes Men Fix the World.

 

The Vanishing of the Bees, Saturday 28 August

We had a full house for The Vanishing of the Bees followed by a great talk from Phil Chandler – author of The Barefoot Bee Keeper. Phil describes his book as ‘a challenge to the status quo [and a read] to stimulate both actual and potential beekeepers to think for themselves and ask questions’.  He talked with first hand knowledge – and with deep passion and energy – of how and why the phenomena of bees and ‘colony collapse disorder’ is directly linked to the way our food is produced (chemical overload, monoculture, agri-business lobbying). Visit Phil’s site www.biobees.com to learn more, or to take action visit The Co-operative’s Plan Bee.

 

Burma VJ, Sunday 29 August

After the film, Zoya Phan – a 28 year old ethnic Karen refugee –  spoke about her own experiences as a teenager fleeing the regime. She now lives in London and works for human rights organisation, The Burma Campaign UK. In an incredibly moving presentation, Zoya spoke about the extent of human rights abuses perpetrated by the regime – including the assassination of her father and assassination attempts on her own life; the need for the international community to keep pressure on Burma as well as its trading partners; the need for a Global Arms embargo as well as for the UN to agree to implement a commission to investigate Crimes against humanity in Burma.

 

To find out more visit The Burma Campaign UK,  buy a copy of Zoya’s autobiography Little Daughter or visit the The Phan Foundation – set up in memory of Zoya’s mother and father, the Phan Foundation works to alleviate poverty, promote education and preserve the culture of the oppressed ethnic Karen people.

 

Jeremy Hardy versus the Israeli Army, Monday 30 August

Jeremy Hardy turned up on Monday morning to a very warm welcome from the Greenbelt crowd. In fact the venue was so full that even Jeremy himself had to queue to get in! After the screening of Leila Sansour’s first film ‘Jeremy Hardy versus the Israeli Army’, the Radio 4 comedian spent more than an hour in a lively post-film discussion, updating the audience about the individuals in the film (International Solidarity Movement) and the issues affecting the West Bank and Bethlehem in particular. We’ll be posting clips of the discussion here on our website but in the mean time, see what Jeremy had to say about Tipping Point Film Fund and Leila’s new film ‘The Road to Bethlehem’.

 

The Yes Men Fix the World, Friday 30 August

Finally on Monday afternoon we showed The Yes Men Fix the World and after the film,  Deborah Burton, co-founder of Tipping Point Film Fund hosted a five-person panel which explored the role of non-violent direct action in campaigning. Joined by speakers from Christian Aid and Tearfund, Trident Plougshares, World Development Movement and Radical Middle Way, the panel discussed various means to both engage supporters and media on the big issues of our time – from postcards and emails to blockades and peaceful direct action protest. Watch this space for clips from the debate…
TPFF Greenbelt line up, 27-30 August

TPFF Greenbelt line up, 27-30 August

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Hurray, it’s Greenbelt time again! And If you don’t know what the amazing Greenbelt Arts Festival, 27-30 August, is all about then check out their website – line up includes Beverley Knight, Gil Scott Heron and Courtney Pine.

We’ll be there, screening some powerful and provocative films, hosting lively panel debates, asking some difficult questions and trying our best to provide some inspiring answers. And if we’re not busy doing that you’ll probably find us admiring our exciting Bethlehem-inspired installation in the G Source tent. Come and find us and admire it too!

In the meantime find out what we’re screening at the FILM venue and when…

Saturday 28 August, 2.30pm
Vanishing of the Bees
As scientists puzzle over the alarming disappearance of honeybees, organic beekeepers indicate alternative reasons for the tragic loss. The film will be followed by a discussion.
Sunday 29 August, 2.30pm
Burma VJ

Risking torture and life imprisonment, Burmese video journalists go undercover to document the 2007 monk uprising, exposing to the international community the Burmese government’s violent and bloody crack-down. The film will be followed by Q&A and book signing with Zoya Phan, International Coordinator at Burma Campaign UK. Zoya is one of Europe’s leading Burmese democracy activists and coordinator for the European Karen Network. Her autobiography  Little Daughter was published in April 2009.

Monday 30 August, 11.30am
Jeremy Hardy vs Israeli Army

The Radio 4 comedian tags along with Palestinian film-maker Leila Sansour as she travels to Israel and the Occupied Territories to team up with members of the International Solidarity Movement (or ISM), as they engage in non-violent direct action to challenge the occupation. The film will be followed by Q&A with Jeremy Hardy.

Monday 30 August, 2.30pm
The Yes Men Fix the World

Two US film makers pose as top executives of corporations they hate; lying their way into business conferences to parody their corporate targets, doing everything they can to expose the danger of letting greed run our world. The film will be followed by a panel debate: How far is enough? A discussion about the pros and cons of peaceful direct action. The panel will be chaired by Tipping Point Film Fund and include speakers from Trident Ploughshares, World Development Movement, Christian Aid and Tearfund.

Vanishing of the Bees, Burma VJ and The Yes Men Fix World is screened in association with Dogwoof.

Politics, football and festivals – May Newsletter

Politics, football and festivals – May Newsletter

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Wow – what an exciting few weeks. Here, we were on the edge of our second-hand seats (thanks Stop Climate Chaos for the free chairs), as election fever unfurled, parliament was hung, the Prime Minister resigned, and a new, never-would-have-thought-it government formed. Ironically, on the night the Con-Lib Dem deal was finally struck, we saw One Night in Turin – a James Erskine film documenting the violence and hooliganism of British soccer fans during the last years of Thatcher’s government, and how Bobby Robson’s 1990 World Cup Team united a nation in disgrace. Plus, we also liked give your vote, a brilliant idea by film-maker, political researcher and our colleague James Sadri – giving citizens in Afghanistan, Ghana and Bangladesh the opportunity to vote in the UK General Election.

In the midst of these changing political times, we’re looking forward to the summer festival scene! In association with Good With Film we’ll be screening some of the best docs of 2009 & 2010 – including Burma VJ, Dirty Oil and The Yes Men Fix the World. Thanks to the solar powered Groovy Movie Picture House we’ll have a great cinematic and ‘green’ venue at Glastonbury, Lounge on the Farm (Canterbury) and Stokes Bay (Wickham). And at the Greenbelt Arts Festival in Cheltenham, late August, we’ll have films and panel discussions a plenty. Do keep an eye on our website for programme plans and screening times.

Essential Viewing

In the Land of the Free tells the compelling story of US prisoners Herman Wallace, Albert Woofox and Robert King, between them, sentenced to almost a century in solitary confinement for a crime the evidence suggests they probably didn’t commit. Today, Herman and Albert are still being held in solitary confinement. The film tells their personal story, documents the campaign for justice, and follows the legal case to free the final two. Log on to www.inthelandofthefreefilm.com for trailer and screening info.

The Alberta Tar Sands is big-doc news again as the new Peter Mettler film, Petropolis is released this month – another one from The Co-operative and Dogwoof. Shot primarily from a helicopter, Mettler takes us on hypnotic flight of image and sound across giant oil reserves, where Canadian wilderness meets large-scale industrial efforts with devastating impacts on the environment. Effects that will be felt far beyond Alberta. To watch the trailer, order the DVD, or to take action log on to www.petropolis-film.com. Plus, as part of the campaign, The Co-operative are offering £500 for the most creative idea (posters, short-films, photos or animations) to highlight the issue.

We haven’t seen this one yet but it looks right up our street. Bananas the movie follows Juan “Accidentes” Dominguez on his biggest case ever. On behalf of twelve Nicaraguan banana workers he is tackling Dole Food in a ground-breaking legal battle for their use of a banned pesticide that was known by the company to cause sterility. Watch the trailer www.bananasthemovie.com

Project News

The Road to Bethlehem
Leila Sansour’s film is now moving towards the final stage of editing. At the same time, we are now starting to plan the outreach campaign that will accompany The Road to Bethlehem. We also continue to raise funds for post production as well as outreach and have recently secured a further £10k towards the film’s completion budget. Click here to find out what Leila’s been up to and the latest from Bethlehem.

Cashback
As the development of Cashback progresses, the story around tax and developing countries continues to be a lively issue. ‘Blowing the Whistle: Time’s Up for Financial Secrecy’, a new report from Cashback supporter and development agency Christian Aid, reveals how the same tax-haven secrecy that allows football club owners to hide their business practices – and even their identities – is also facilitating massive tax dodging in developing countries. To download the report or find out what you can do visit Christian Aid. And if you want a simple intro to why tax matters to developing nations check out this video by Global Financial Integrity.

Contact us to find out how you can support Road to Bethlehem or Cashback.

 

 

 

 

Want to support Tipping Point Film Fund?

Volunteer at the festivals this summer! We need you for a couple of hours at Glastonbury, Lounge on the Farm, Stokes Bay and Greenbelt. If you’re already going and would like to get involved, drop us a line

Run a film night for a good cause! Good screenings will calculate the cost of your film licence according to who you are, where you screen and how many people you’re screening to. Any profits you make can be kept by you, your organisation, campaign or cause – including TPFF!

Support challenging films that inspire campaigning by visiting our website to make a donation, follow us on Twitter or become a fan of our page on Facebook.

Dates for your diary

Co-operative Fortnight, 19 June to 3 July
For 14 days, up and down the country, co-operatives like TPFF will be promoting their work! Find out what’s happening near you.

Glastonbury (25-26 June), Lounge on the Farm (10-11 July) and Stokes Bay (6-7 August)
Join TPFF at the Groovy Movie Picture House. We’ll be showing Burma VJ, Dirty Oil and The Yes Men Fix the World. Check out our website for screening times.

Screening of Great African Scandal plus Q&A, 29 June at 6.30pm
Unite Trade Union, Venture Community Centre, 103a Wornington Road, W10 5YB
Near Ladbroke Grove Tube Station

Greenbelt Arts Festival, 27-30 August
Check out our website for details of films and speakers nearer the time.

And Finally

We’d like to wish you a very happy May and June and we hope the sun comes out to brighten your day.

With best wishes,
from Deborah, Emma, Thea and all at Tipping Point Film Fund.
PS Keep a look out for news of our brand new 360 film club – coming soon!

 

TPFF summer festival screenings

TPFF summer festival screenings

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Tipping Point Film Fund hits the festival scene this summer at Glastonbury (25-26 June), Lounge on the Farm in Canterbury (9-11 July), Stokes Bay in Wickham (5-8 August) and the Greenbelt Arts Festival in Cheltenham (27-30 August).

FOR SCREENING TIMES SEE END OF PAGE

In association with our friends at Good With Film, we’ll be screening some of the past year’s most powerful and provocative cinematic documentaries – Dirty Oil, Burma VJ and The Yes Men Fix the World.

And we’ve got the best venue! Thanks to the Groovy Movie Picture House, we’ll have a proper cinema with space for almost 200 people but best of all it’s fuelled by the sun’s very own magnificent rays – so no harm to the environment.

We’re really hoping that festival-goers will have the chance to experience the power of people on film, and to see how individuals come together to create great social change.

Each film we’ve chosen charts the struggle of how ordinary people can – and do – challenge oppressive political regimes or all-powerful corporations. And, how you in the audience, just by spreading the word or taking a campaign action, can massively contribute to social change.

Dirty Oil takes a good hard look at the Canadian Alberta tar sands (the biggest US supplier of oil) and its impact on the environment and indigenous communities like the Beaver Lake Cree. Click here to find out more about the campaign and watch the film trailer.

Burma VJ tells the story of how Burmese video journalists risked torture and life imprisonment to expose images, from an otherwise closed country, to the international media during the 2007 monk uprising. Click here to find out more about the campaign and watch the film trailer.

The Yes Men Fix the World shows two US film makers posing as top executives of corporations they hate; how they lie their way into business conferences and parody their corporate targets, doing everything they can to expose the danger of letting greed run our world. Click here to find out more about the campaign and watch the film trailer.

Black Gold : As westerners revel in designer lattes and cappuccinos, impoverished Ethiopian coffee growers suffer the bitter taste of injustice. In this eye-opening expose of the multi-billion dollar industry, Black Gold traces one man’s fight for a fair price. Visit the Black Gold Movie website to find out more.

Jeremy Hardy vs the Israeli Army : The comedian tags along with Palestinian film-maker Leila Sansour, as she travels to Israel and the Occupied Territories, to document daily life under Israel’s military occupation. The duo teams up with members of the International Solidarity Movement (or ISM), as they engage in non-violent direct action to challenge the occupation.

Vanishing of the Bees examines the alarming disappearance of honeybees and the greater meaning it holds about the relationship between mankind and mother earth. As scientists puzzle over the cause, organic beekeepers indicate alternative reasons for the tragic loss. Watch the trailer here.

FOR SCREENING TIMES AND DATES READ ON…

Glastonbury, the Green Futures Field, 23-27 June
The Groovy Movie Picture House
Dirty Oil, 2pm, Friday 25 June
Burma VJ, 4pm, Saturday 26 June
The Yes Men Fix the World, 4pm on Friday 25 June and 2pm on Saturday 26 June

Lounge on the Farm, Canterbury 9-11 July
The Groovy Movie Picture House
Jeremy Hardy vs The Israeli Army, 3pm on Saturday 10 July
Dirty Oil, 5pm on Saturday 10 July
The Yes Men Fix the World, 12pm on Sunday 11 July

For Lounge on the Farm press release click here

Stokes Bay, Wickham, 5-8 August
The Groovy Movie Picture House
Black Gold, 2pm, Friday 6 August
Burma VJ, 4pm, Friday 6 August
Jeremy Hardy vs Israeli Army, 2pm, Saturday 7 August
The Yes Men Fix the World, 4pm, Saturday 7 August

Greenbelt Arts Festival, Cheltenham, 27-30 August
Vanishing of the Bees + Q&A with exec producer James Erskine, 2.30pm, Saturday 28 August
Burma VJ + Q&A with Burma Campaign activist Zoya Phan, 2.30pm, Sunday 29 August
Jeremy Hardy vs Israeli Army + Q&A with Jeremy Hardy, 11.30am, Monday 30 August
The Yes Men Fix the World + Q&A tbc, 2.30pm, Monday 30 August

Click here if you’d like to volunteer