[Netnews-action] 5 June: McLibel

[Animal Rights Calendar]

From:           	"Spanner Films" <hello at spannerfilms.net>

McLIBEL CHOSEN FOR FLAGSHIP BBC2 SERIES OF OSCAR-WINNERS AND HIT 
DOCUMENTARIES


LIVE WEBCHAT WITH DEFENDANTS AND DIRECTOR FOLLOWING BROADCAST
_______________________________________

-> available online at: http://www.spannerfilms.net/?lid=1918

-> press contact: Lizzie Gillett lizzie at spannerfilms.net

-> more on the film: http://www.spannerfilms.net/mclibel




McLIBEL CHOSEN FOR FLAGSHIP BBC2 SERIES OF OSCAR-WINNERS AND HIT 
DOCUMENTARIES


LIVE WEBCHAT TO FOLLOW SCREENING


-> 'McLibel' is the only uncommissioned, independent film from a first-time
filmmaker to be selected for the prestigious series. Also screening are Errol
Morris's 'The Fog of War', cinema hit 'Lost In La Mancha' and France's top-
grossing doc, 'Etre et Avoir'.

There will be a live webchat with Franny Armstrong and the McLibel defendants
directly after the screening at 11.55pm on 5th June at
http://www.mcspotlight.org/webchat

McLibel is the story of the postman and the gardener who humiliated McDonald's
in the biggest corporate disaster in history. The new 85 minute feature
documentary follows Dave Morris, 50, and Helen Steel, 39, from anonymous
campaigners distributing leaflets in North London in the late 80s to global
heroes defeating the UK government - and libel laws - at the European Court in
2005.  Whilst representing themselves in the longest court case in English
history (314 days), Helen works nights in a bar and Dave brings up his young
son alone. They also face infiltration by spies, secret meetings with 
corporate
executives and a visit from Ronald McDonald.

"It's a remarkable achievement." says Ken Loach, who directed the courtroom
reconstructions in McLibel as part of the volunteer crew, "The broadcasters
don't deserve congratulation but castigation - it should have been shown when
it was first made."

McDonald's had always used the UK libel laws to suppress criticism. Everyone
from the BBC, Channel 4, The Sun, The Guardian and Time Out to Linda 
McCartney,
trade unions, tea shops and kids' theatre groups had crumbled in the face of
McDonald's legal threats. So no broadcaster would commission a film about
McLibel at the start of the trial in 1995. Which left first-time filmmaker and
former pop drummer Franny Armstrong, then aged 23, with a story-and-a-half on
her hands. The first version of her film (52 mins), was released at the end of
the original McLibel trial in 1997, sold to TV around the world, was seen 
by 26
million people and yet was never broadcast in the UK. Commissioners at first
BBC1 and then Channel 4 wanted to buy it, but pulled out after consulting 
their
lawyers.

"As the media has more and more fallen into the hands of a few corporations
there is much more timidity about doing investigative journalism." says Eric
Schlosser, author of international bestseller "Fast Food Nation" and one of 
the
key interviewees in McLibel "McDonald's strategy of threatening to sue people
was very very effective. It prevented meaningful criticism of McDonald's from
appearing in the British media."

But after Helen and Dave (the 'McLibel 2') defeated the UK libel laws at the
European Court of Human Rights in February 2005 - and with McDonald's issuing
no further libel threats - the UK broadcasters finally acted. BBC4 screened
McLibel on 14 April 2005 - the day before McDonald's 50th Birthday - and,
following overwhelming viewer response and rave reviews (see below), BBC2
selected the film for its prestigious documentary series.


"Helen and Dave proved that ordinary people and common sense can win against
impossible odds in our legal system" says Director Franny Armstrong. "And I
hope our film shows that independent filmmakers can fight through all the
waffle on TV to get alternative stories right into the mainstream."

Franny's second documentary, 'Drowned Out' (2002) followed an Indian family 
who
decide to stay at home and drown rather than make way for the Narmada Dam. It
was runner-up for 'Best Documentary' at the British Independent Film Awards
last year. Both McLibel and Drowned Out are being released in the cinema in 
the
US later this year.


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PRESS REVIEWS FROM BBC4 BROADCAST, APRIL 2005
http://www.spannerfilms.net/mclibel

"The sort of film Michael Moore probably thinks he makes"  - Sunday Times

"Hilarious and engrossing" - BBC

"Charming and inspiring" - Radio Times

"More twists than a John le Carre novel" - Bermuda Sun

"Will satisfy both head and heart" - Time Out "Shamelessly partisan, if
entertaining" - The Times

"Dynamite" - Yahoo Movies

"Freedom of speech rarely tasted so satisfying" - Times Online

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VIEWERS' RESPONSES FROM BBC4 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/yoursay/mclibel.shtml


Superb! The BBC has finally shown something that is against corporate smears,
lies, half-truths and deception. Worth the licence fee alone -  Sam Freke,
Bristol

McLibel just goes to show how good television can be when someone actually has
something to say. There is so much 'presentation' now and so little content.
This programme had real content and that's why it was so good - Barbara,
Bristol

After all the comments about dumbing down within the BBC (often well founded
criticisms), this is the BBC at its best. You have wisely given the necessary
time to cover the broad depth of issues. It would have been so easy to give
this subject just 30 minutes. For me, this is by far the top documentary of
2005, amongst very many excellent contenders - Jeff Ball

I think it is paradoxical to say the least that a programme about how the 
right
to free speech is curtailed in this country by the law should have been shown
on the BBC channel with the smallest number of viewers! What are you 
frightened
of? - Josephine Bacon, London

The McLibel 2 should have been given high honours in the Queen's awards. What
this pair did is certainly more important than sailing around the world for a
multinational like B&Q. J Lee, Fareham

McLibel is the first time I've watched Storyville. I'm nearly 63 and happy to
say that I still get angry when I watch programmes like this. This is true
'reality' television - please give me more so that I can maintain my anger
instead of just accepting that this is the world we live in. -  Mike Swift,
Sheffield

A wonderful programme. Much of it made Michael Moore's work look very
amateurish.  - M Newman

Dave, Helen, Franny and the team have proved that the ordinary, decent and
brave people in society can take on a giant bully of a corporation and win. -
Martin O Neill, Lurgan, N Ireland


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