The University of Winchester is to screen an award-nominated short film by a Winchester academic.
Black for a Cause documents one man’s forty year fight to clear his name following a miscarriage of justice. The story follows Black Power Activist Winston Trew, who served a two year prison sentence after being falsely convicted of theft, robbery and assault on police officers. Find a trailer for the film here.
The documentary was produced, written and directed by Stephen Thompson, lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Winchester.
“The process of making Black for a Cause began back in 2010,” said Stephen Thompson, “Winston had just published a book of the same name, which was brought to my attention by a mutual friend of ours, and as soon as I started reading it I felt a connection to it.
“Although the story focuses on the policing of London's black communities in the 1970s, I realised that the situation was similar to my own when I was growing up in London in the 1980s; and that, essentially, is why I wanted to make the film. I felt that by telling Winston's story, I could show how the experiences of black people in Britain recur throughout the decades.
“Black for a Cause offers a timely reminder that the fight against racial intolerance is never won.”
The short film will be screened at the University of Winchester on 31 January. Following the screening, Kass Boucher, Lecturer in Creative Writing, will host a Q&A with director Stephen Thompson and the subject of the documentary, Winston Trew.
Black for a Cause has already been making waves in the independent and short film industry, with the documentary being selected for screening at two film festivals. Locally, it was shown at the Winchester Film Festival, where it also picked up a nomination for the Hampshire Prize, which recognises directors who live, study or work locally. It was also shown at the independent and alternative cinema event Mirror Mountain Film Festival in Ottawa, Canada, where it was described as ‘engrossing’.
Stephen Thompson is a writer and filmmaker, born in Hackney to Jamaican parents. He has written a variety of novels and plays and has worked as a journalist for publications such as The Voice, Observer, Scotland on Sunday and The Idler.
The short film will be screened at 6.30pm on 31 January in the Stripe Lecture Room, King Alfred Campus, University of Winchester, Sparkford Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO22 4NR. Tickets are free but booking is recommended. Book now here.
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