‘Hope in a Slingshot’ was accepted by the Acquisitions Department of the ABC (Australia’s National TV Broadcaster) last year and 10 months later the offer was officially and personally withdrawn by Kim Dalton the Head of the ABC TV on very dubious grounds.
The film is a detailed expose of the occupation of Palestine and the human costs of it told through both Israeli and Palestinain human rights activists. It was made specifically to counter balance the lack of information about the occupation in most news items on the Israeli Palestinian conflict by the mass media in Australia.
The reason for the withdrawal :
EXCERPT FROM KIM DALTON"S LETTER
Clause 6.6.3 "… providing content of a similar type and weight and in an appropriate time – frame.”
The ABC has not been able to access content which would put an alternative view and therefore we would be
unable to meet the impartiality requirement.
Their effort to find another film was re ignited after Senator Ludlam challenged the managing director of the ABC in the Senate Estimates on May 25th 2010. Two months have now passed and they still cannot find one. I, Inka Stafrace have now suggested two films which took less than five minutes to find on google. The Case for Israel and To See if I am Smiling. They are still ‘considering’ them.
Sydney Morning Herald
http://www.smh.com.au/national/abc-in-firing-li...
The Age
http://www.theage.com.au/national/filmmaker-rap...
Crikey – (that started in all)
http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/05/28/impartialit...
New Matilda – (fantastic read)
http://newmatilda.com/2010/05/31/abc-selfcensor...
http://inside.org.au/arguing-for-peace/
Hope in a Slingshot is recognized by the The International Peace Research Association’s Director as ‘a signal contribution to peaceful media representation of this (the Israeli-Palestinian) conflict’ and by Senator Ludlam as a film that ‘should be broadcast’.
Screenings :
Footbridge Theatre – 10th July 12.30pm 2010 – Sydney University, Sydney with Q&A
Mercury Theatre – 11th August 6.30pm – Adelaide CBD with Q&A
Melbourne International Underground Film Festival – are trying to fit it in on very late notice.
Sydney – Red Rattler – 6 Faversham Str, Marrickville – Aug 26th Thursday – 6.30 doors open for 7pm screening
WA – Perth – 5th September – more info TBC
Talks
Sydney – Politics in the Pub – 27th August with Jake Lynch…. 7 minutes of the film will be screened….. Gaelic Pub – Darlinghurst – Sydney
Thank you for reading this far.
Sincerely
Inka
