Tipping Point Film Fund » The Co-operative

TPFF Spring Newsletter

admin — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 13:41:47 +0000

Dear colleagues, supporters and friends,

Here’s a quick round-up of TPFF news – dates for your diary, project news, more films and campaigns to watch out for and, most importantly, read to the end to find out how you can get more involved with what we do!

FILM PROJECT NEWS

We Are Many

We are delighted to say we are working with director Amir Amirani to help raise funds and provide campaign outreach support for his film We Are Many, which will be released in 2013 to mark the 10th anniversary of the global anti-Iraq invasion marches. ‘We Are Many’ is a film about a single day and its aftermath – an untold chapter in the history of people power. By turns uplifting and chilling, it reveals both the power and potential of ordinary people, as well as the dark underbelly of the war machine.

Imagine This (working title)

As we witness the outcome of unfettered greed in the markets and financial systems, TPFF is leading on the development of a film that will take us on a journey to show how you can combine ethics and commercial success. Some are arguing that the ‘unselfish gene’ is embedded in many areas of human economic activity – we just don’t seem to make much noise about it . Taking an international look at this subject, the first stage research has been completed. Read here for more.

The Road to Bethlehem

Following from a very successful presentation at the Dubai International Film Festival, and as distribution plans for its release for Christmas get underway, we are embarking on the task of fundraising for the film’s outreach campaign to accompany the film’s release. As part of this, there will be a fundraiser held at Amnesty International’s Human Rights Action Centre on May 16th, with a screening of Jeremy Hardy vs The Israeli Army, with a Q&A with Jeremy and Leila. If you would like to book for this event or find out more about how you can help, email info@tippingpointfilmfund.com.

More ones to watch…

Just Do It – TPFF is part of the funding community supporting Emily James’s film about environmental activists, due for release this summer.

Our Generation – Sinem Saban & Damien Curtis’s shocking new documentary about present day Australia’s abuse of Aboriginal people’s rights – land, culture and freedoms.

New Dogwoof Release on June 21st – Countdown to Zero

“The horror film to end all horror films.” - Peter Bradshaw, Guardian

“Every man, woman and child lives under a nuclear sword of Damocles, hanging by the slenderest of threads, capable of being cut at any moment by accident, or miscalculation, or by madness.” - President John F. Kennedy

Nine nations possess nuclear weapons capabilities with others racing to join them. The world is now held in a delicate balance that could be shattered by an act of terrorism, failed diplomacy, or a simple accident. Written and directed by Academy Award® nominated documentarian Lucy Walker (Waste Land, The Devil’s Playground, Blindsight), Countdown to Zero traces the history of the atomic bomb from its origins to the present state of global affairs. It makes a compelling case for worldwide nuclear disarmament and features an array of important international statesmen, including Jimmy Carter, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Pervez Musharraf.

The film’s UK distributor, Dogwoof (The Age of Stupid), have announced Demand Zero Day on Tuesday 21 June. The film will screen simultaneously across the UK and Ireland before venues link up live to London’s BAFTA for a high-profile panel discussion starring Queen Noor of Jordan, Valerie Plame and Tarantino’s producer, Lawrence Bender. Audiences will also be encouraged to join the discussion and text in their questions. Not screening near you? You can bring the premiere to your community by hosting your very own. Dogwoof’s Ambassadors programme allows individuals to make a big social impact while generating funds for both themselves and the filmmakers. Find out where the Countdown to Zero is playing and bring the movement to your area with Ambassadors.

Watch the trailer here.

CAMPAIGN NEWS

TPFF is a member of the Stop Climate Chaos coalition and this Spring, SCC are driving The Big Climate Re-Connection – find out how you can make sure your MP pushes the government to deliver the best possible Climate Act.

We are also members of the wonderful Tax Justice Network – who worked closely with author Nicholas Shaxson to produce a new book, Treasure Islands – the truth about tax havens. Check it out.

Join a revolution – courtesy of The Co-operative! The Co-op Group are encouraging its customers to Join The Revolution as it announces the most radical sustainability programme in UK corporate history that will spearhead its membership drive and help build a more sustainable economy. Get involved!

Britdoc’s excellent Case Study on End of the Line was recently published and aims to illustrate just how and why film matters and makes a tangible impact that is auditable.

TPFF FILM CLUB & Save the Dates…

April 18th, May 16th, Amnesty International Human Rights Action Centre

TPFF held recent events at the Lexi Cinema – End of Poverty (to mark Fairtrade Fortnight) and Academy Award winner Inside Job. Both played to full houses, followed by great post-film discussions with great panellists – so watch this space for our next Lexi screenings! We are now exploring taking TPFF film club to other London venues as well as other cities around the UK…

Meantime, on April 18th, we are partnering with Jubilee Debt Campaign and Pambazuka News to co-host a film + panel discussion to mark 50 years since the death of DRC’s first independent leader – Patrice Lumumba, assassinated just 10 weeks after his election. The event will ask: 50 years on, what future for the Congo?

7pm, admission free, on a first come first serve basis on the night. Read here for more.

May 16th – join TPFF, Jeremy Hardy and Leila Sansour for a fundraising event for The Road to Bethlehem outreach campaign at Amnesty International Human Rights Action Centre. Tickets on sale soon – watch this space. Meantime, if you would like to know more email info@tippingpointfilmfund.com.

GROWING THE FUND…

TPFF raises funds for projects from various sources – individuals, charities, NGOs. More and more, people are asking us ‘how can we help?’ or ‘how can we get more involved?’ – so here is how! Fundamentally, we need supporters to back the fund and spread the word. The more the fund grows, the more projects we can support. Find out more – or email info@tippingpointfilmfund.com if you would like to talk to one of us at TPFF about how you can get more involved.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Vanishing of the Bees

admin — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:54:55 +0000

If you could imagine your food cupboard / plate / picnic without the things that rely on bees to pollinate them…then you would have a sad half-empty cupboard/plate/ picnic…

We need bees that much. and if you are an urbanised soul, then you may not quite realise that, without bees – those small little things that you pay no attention to – our food chain is in trouble….

Bees are in a critical state of emergency – which means we are too. If we don’t get to the bottom of how and why this is happening and then take all the measures necessary to address it, we can kiss goodbye to the bee – and all that it does for us.

VANISHING OF THE BEES will make a vital contribution to raising awareness on all these issues. Like the film, Tipping Point Film Fund – a newly launched organisation – is supported by The Co-operative. We are generating a new fund drawn from donations by the public to support mainstream, cinematic social action feature documentaries that tell us stories we need to know about and act upon. We believe in the power of people and film to make change through ‘giving, watching, campaigning’. See our short trailer at:

www.tippingpointfilmfund.com

Deborah Burton, Tipping Point Film Fund

Bees are dying in their billions. In the UK alone one fifth of the honeybee hives were lost in the winter of 2008/09. Bees pollinate a third of the food we eat, and this contributes £200million a year to the UK economy. The Vanishing of the Bees is an eye opening account of the shocking truth behind the declining bee population.

If you could imagine your food cupboard / plate / picnic without the things that rely on bees to pollinate them…then you would have a sad half-empty cupboard/plate/ picnic…

Vanishing of the Bees (UK Première on Thursday 1st October) will make a vital contribution to raising awareness on all these issues. The film, like Tipping Point Film Fund is supported by The Co-operative. The film is another example of a powerful mainstream cinematic social action feature documentary that will tell us a story we need to know about and act upon.

The Vanishing of the Bees and Tipping Point Film Fund have alot in common – we both believe in the power of people and film to make change through – giving, watching, and campaigning.

Read more

Find out more about donating to Tipping Point Film Fund.
Read more about the film, the Vanishing of the Bees.
Check out The Guardian’s article on pesticides and the death of the honeybee.
Read The Telegraph’s report – Call for research into pesticides blamed for vanishing bees.

The Co-operative commits to Tipping Point

admin — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 21:00:31 +0000

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…