Three new films offer a fresh perspective on how poverty is portrayed in the media
Three UK filmmakers have won the chance to have their films showcased by the BBC following a nationwide competition to find original and engaging short films that illustrate the current realities of living in poverty in the UK.
Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Mosaic Films, BBC Storyville and STEPS International launched a search with Sheffield International Documentary Festival in September to find filmmakers who could produce an authentic portrayal of poverty in the UK. Around a hundred entries were submitted and whittled down to six finalists who then took part in a live pitch in front of a judging panel at this year’s international Sheffield Doc/Fest.
The winning three films will premiere as part of a special session at Sheffield Doc/Fest in June 2011 and be shown on BBC4 in 2012 as part of BBC Storyville's 'Why Poverty?' season:
- The Choir With No Name, Anna Edwards - a film about a choir comprised entirely of homeless people who rehearse every Monday evening in a former Church hall in King’s Cross, London and the difference it makes to their outlook and aspirations;
- Holiday From Poverty, Jez Lewis - a film following four families living in poverty as they take a weeks holiday in a country setting, offering an insight into their lives and illustrating the power of a holiday to transform their hopes and expectations;
- The Car's Got To Go, Barney Snow – another fresh approach to the portrayal of poverty, painting a picture through the emotional journey of having a car repossessed.
Research has shown that how poverty is portrayed in the media can influence public perception which, in turn, shapes our attitudes towards people living in poverty. Although the UK media does cover poverty, it often lacks depth, analysis or the voices of those with direct experiences of poverty.
Julia Lewis, Director of Communications at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation said: "The authentic portrayal of poverty in the UK is still of marginal interest to most of the mainstream media and this competition has identified original, imaginative and memorable films that confront widely held perceptions and portray some of the current realities of life in poverty.
The responses to this competition were of incredibly high quality, making it particularly difficult to select just three. I’d like to offer my warmest congratulations to the competition winners. “We are really looking forward to seeing the final films and hope they will succeed in helping to build public support to eradicate poverty."
BBC Storyville's Why Poverty? season will look at global poverty and inequality with a focus on what people are doing to change their lives and escape poverty. It will also examine the barriers facing people trying to change their lives and escape poverty.
Nick Fraser from BBC Storyville said: “There were some excellent submissions and the titles chosen are highly original and will give a fresh perspective on a contentious issue.
Poverty in the UK is misunderstood and these films will work to redress that in a creative way. We're delighted to be working with JRF and Mosaic Films to use the potential of short documentaries to engage both the public and decision makers on a very important issue."
