04/19/2017
THIS FRIDAY NIGHT
FREE SCREENING of “The Gathering”
Friday, April 21 at 7pm
Hot Springs Central Theater
1008 Central Ave
Hot Springs, AR. 71901
In conjunction with Witness to Innocence & Death Penalty Action, The Arkansas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty will host several showings of the acclaimed short film, The Gathering, this weekend in Hot Springs and Fayetteville.
“The Gathering” tells the story of Witness to Innocence, the largest organization of exonerated death row survivors in the country. These innocent men and women, some having spent decades on death row for murders they did not commit, come together once a year to share their thoughts and feelings, fears and dreams with the only people who really understand what they experienced - each other. This award winning film is still in competition at film festivals in the United States and abroad and is being shown by special arrangement with the Director.
There will also a display of death penalty related documentary photographs by Scott Langley, who has been documenting executions, death row facilities, and personalities related the issue for more than a decade.
Following the film there will be a "Talk Back" opportunity to discuss issues raised in the film, the status of the death penalty in Arkansas, and what people are doing about it. The public is invited to this free event. Donations welcome.
More about the film: http://www.witnesstoinnocence.org/WTI-2016-film.html
More about Scott Langley's photo documentary: http://www.deathpenaltyphoto.org/
Synopsis
“The Gathering” tells the story of Witness to Innocence, the largest organization of death row exonerees in the country. These innocent men and women, some having spent decades on death row for murders they didn’t commit, come together once a year to share their thoughts and feelings, fears and dreams with the only people who really understand what they experienced. Their stories are heartbreaking, shocking and anger-provoking. The exonerees empower each other, speaking out about a broken justice system that makes mistakes and compels them to be warriors against the death penalty. Meet 16 exonorees, a diverse group brought together by a common experience, a unique family to whom no one chooses to belong. They bare their souls, forever changed by the degradation they suffered. Like Anthony Ray Hinton who spent 30 years on death row, released only six months before the filming. And Debra Milke who spent 22 years on death row, joining the others at her first Gathering. These exonerees are passionate about telling their stories. They want the system changed so a competent defense doesn’t depend on money and racial bias is eliminated. They want dishonest prosecutors and police held accountable. They want compensation for the years lost. They want their dignity restored. They know the risk of executing an innocent person is too high.
Micki Dickoff, Director-Writer-Producer-Editor
Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Micki Dickoff has made social justice films for four decades. Her work addresses subjects like AIDS, human rights, racism, poverty, the justice system and the death penalty. Micki’s award-winning films have been screened at festivals worldwide, broadcast on national and international television and released theatrically to positive reviews by top critics, including A.O. Scott of The New York Times and Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times. Her documentaries include Neshoba: The Price of Freedom and Too Little, Too Late, and dramas Mother, Mother and In the Blink of an Eye. Micki was chosen for the American Film Institute’s Directing Workshop for Women where she developed Mother, Mother. She was selected by the State Department for the American Documentary Showcase to teach filmmaking and screen her work in Kenya. Micki was among three finalists for the prestigious Humanitas Prize for her civil rights film, Neshoba. Micki taught television and film at Emerson College in Boston and is a member of the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and the International Documentary Association (IDA).
Reviews
“Stunning portrayal of the human drama lived by death row exonerees…a powerful and thought-provoking film”
– David O’Sullivan, Ambassador and Head of the European Union Delegation to the U.S.
“The frightening, heartbreaking and powerful stories of injustice should make everyone rethink the death penalty…each of their stories inspires humility as well as the highest lesson of humanity.”
– Nathalie Broadhurst, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of France
“A harrowing yet beautiful film…a must see film for anyone who cares about justice in this country.”
– Brian Stolarz, Attorney/ Author, Grace and Injustice on Death Row: The Race against Time and Texas to Free an Innocent Man
