Hamilton Black Film Festival is excited to announce the list of films it is showing in May, 2021

                 

                     184 Province Street, North Hamilton ON L8H 4H8 

Office: 905-966-7750  E: info@hbff.ca W: www.hbff.ca 

 

“Your self image is so powerful it unwittingly becomes your destiny.” – Oscar Micheaux - the first African-American to make a film (1919).

 

For Immediate Release 

Hamilton Black Film Festival is excited to announce the list of films selected  for the 1st annual BIPOC Film Festival May 28th-May 30th

 

Hamilton Ontario - March 24, 2021 - The Hamilton Black Film Festival featuring films made by the BIPOC community is delighted to share the films selected for its first film festival virtually from May 28th to May 30th.These films were selected by a diverse community of submitted creatives. Among those selected are feature films, documentaries and short movies from Canada, the USA and Africa. (click this link for the full listing of films to be shown: https://hbff.ca/836-2/                    

 

HBFF will present a transformative experience through the eyes of the BIPOC community in film. Experiences range from the topical to the everyday experiences of people from around the globe.

 

The festival will feature films by, for and about the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) community. Of important note is our principles of inclusion. This means that we want viewers to think broadly about BIPOC contributions from both in front and behind the lens. 

 

The official opening of the film festival will be on May 28th at Hamilton’s Westdale Theatre. Awards will be presented on May 30, 2021.

Due to COVID, screenings will be virtual. Talkbalks are captioning for those with hearing challenges and are made available for greater accessibility. 

“The HBFF is a not-for-profit organization whose goal is to bring about an accessible platform to showcase films that are made by, for and about People of Colour around the world, focusing on both the challenges and triumphs of everyday life.” said HBFF Founder, Paize Usiosefe. 

Festival passes go on sale this Saturday, April 2, 2021.

For more information contact: Louise Noel-Ambrose - Publicist at 905-865-1027, eventobepr@gmail.com  Twitter: @hamiltonblackfilm Instagram: @hamiltonblackfilm  https://www.facebook.com/hamblackfilm #HBFF #HamOnt #HBFF2021

 

 

Press Release circulated on behalf of the HBFF By

 

STEPHEN WEIR

 Glen Assoun Compensated for Wrongful Conviction

For immediate release

 

March 04, 2021 – 6:15 PM

HALIFAX: Innocence Canada confirmed today that a confidential financial settlement was recently reached between the Nova Scotia and federal governments and Glen Assoun, a 64-year-old Nova Scotia man who was exonerated in 2019 in the 1995 murder of Brenda LeAnne Way.

 

"As is the norm when a settlement is negotiated in a case where a miscarriage of justice took place, the terms cannot be disclosed," said Ron Dalton, co-president of Innocence Canada. "Suffice to say, no amount of money could ever make up for the years of freedom Glen lost to a parade of errors and misjudgements by police and prosecutors."

 

Ms. Way, a 28-year-old prostitute, had been trying to clean up her life when she was found dead in an alley on Nov. 12, 1995. She had sustained multiple stab wounds and her throat had been cut. Convicted in 1999, Mr. Assoun ended up spending almost 17 years behind bars.

  

"At a certain point all of our clients need to get out from under the burden of wrongful conviction and get on with what remains of their lives," said Mr. Dalton, who was himself wrongly convicted in 1989 of murdering his wife.

 

Lawyers Phil Campbell and Sean MacDonald, who have represented Mr. Assoun throughout his quest for justice, noted that, while Mr. Assoun has shown tremendous resiliency throughout his two decade-long ordeal his financial sacrifices were significant as he was denied the ability to work and amass savings for his later years.

 

“At the end of the day, Minister Lametti and the Prime Minister and the Nova Scotia government did the right thing for Glen," Mr. MacDonald said. "And that should be celebrated.”

 

The settlement has the added benefit of being formal recognition by the governments involved that terrible mistakes took place in Mr. Assoun's case, Mr. Dalton said. 

 

He noted that the 17 years Mr. Assoun spent in prison and the further five years he was on strict bail conditions added to the time the real killer has been at large.

  

"While Glen’s ordeal has lasted over twenty years and he will continue to carry the scars of his experience, we at Innocence Canada want to express our gratitude to Federal Justice Minister Lametti and others who ensured that this important step has been taken to get Glen back his life."

 

-30- 

  

For further information, please contact:

 

Kerry Emmonds – Executive Director

Innocence Canada

kemmonds@innocencecanada.com

416-504-7500 ext. 101

 

Issued by Stephen Weir