Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ FOUR - Winter highlights 2005
Global
Baghdad
Or Bust
In January 2003, with war in Iraq looming, former United
States marine Ken O'Keefe embarked on an extraordinary journey.
In three London double-decker buses, O'Keefe and 60
volunteers Β– from all walks of life Β– set off on a 3,000-mile
journey from London to Baghdad, to act as 'human shields'.
Welcomed by Iraq Β– before the fall of Saddam Β–
and ridiculed by much of the Western media, the experience was not an
easy one.
External pressures and internal conflicts took their
toll.
With footage shot by the volunteers during the journey
and their time in Iraq, Baghdad Or Bust is a revealing and compelling
film which gives a unique insider's view of one of the most extraordinary
Β– and human Β– stories of the Iraq War.
A Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ production.
PR
Storyville Β– Why
We Fight
The American defence industry has untold power and defence
spending is the highest in the country's history Β– $396 billion
Β– more than the total sum allocated to all other spending sectors.
In his farewell speech to the nation, in 1961, President
Dwight Eisenhower warned the American people that "unwarranted
influence" was being acquired by "a permanent arms industry
of vast proportions".
Storyville Β– Why We Fight is a social and political
journey through the 50 years following Eisenhower's prophecy, and an
investigation into the joint venture between the US Government and the
arms industry in the business of making war.
A Think Tank production.
RI/JA4
Holidays In The Danger
Zone Β– Places That Don't Exist
There are almost 200 officially recognised countries
in the world, as well as scores of undeclared republics, unrecognised
by the international community but functioning, in one way or another,
as countries.
They often have their own armies, their own borders,
presidents, passports and money.
Some are home to terrorists, arms manufacturers and
smuggling rings, while others are run by criminal gangs.
The disputes over some could, it has been argued, threaten
a Third World War.
Simon Reeve visits the countries that don't
exist on the latest of his unusual holidays.
A Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ production.
PR
Africa Live
Africa's answer to Live Aid is a series of concerts
for the UN Foundation's Roll Back Malaria campaign, featuring some of
the continent's top musical stars.
Malaria kills more people than Aids in Africa, but this
fact never seems to grab the headlines.
Singer/songwriter Youssou N'Dour, whose brainchild
the concerts are, hopes Africa Live will help raise awareness of this
killer disease, both in Africa and across the world.
Youssou N'Dour, himself a United Nations ambassador,
also wants the concerts to spread the word that there is a flip side
to the despair of the continent portrayed in news bulletins; that Africa
is a creative, vibrant and beautiful nation.
A compilation of highlights filmed over two live concerts
at the Demba Diop stadium in Dakar, Senegal, as well as in Youssou's
own club, Thoissane, Africa Live features some of the biggest names
in African music, sharing a celebration of the vitality and creativity
of Youssou's home continent.
An Antelope South Limited and Ideale Audience co-production.
JW
The Liberace Of Baghdad
Once the most famous pianist in Iraq, Samir Peter
now plays to half-empty hotel bars and sleeps in a basement with bricked-up
windows, fearing the recurring suicide bomb attacks.
At 56, Samir is a charming, funny, drinking, smoking
womaniser.
When the Americans came to Iraq, it was a dream to Samir,
but the interviews he gave against Saddam Hussein resulted in death
threats, and now he wants to join his estranged wife in the United States.
Each day, he visits his two children Β– daughter
Saha, 31, and son Fadi, 25 Β– who are still living in Baghdad.
They are not interested in going to the US with him.
They hate America for what has happened to their country Β– three
of their neighbours have been shot dead on their doorsteps.
Through Samir and his family, director Sean McAllister
gets to look inside the new Iraq, and the impossible choices that people
are facing.
A Tenfoot Film and Team aps production.
RI/JA4
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