The Ballymurphy Precedent to Premiere at Pulitzer Center Conference in Washington, DC

Janson Media today announced the U.S. release of The Ballymurphy Precedent, a powerful forensic investigation of one of the worst atrocities of the Northern Irish “Troubles,” a shocking story that, until this film, was largely unknown outside of the region. The film is also the inspirational story of the courage and dignity of the families of the dead as they search for the truth.

Described as “an astonishing documentary… urgent, angry and moral… top tier film-making” by Total Film, The Ballymurphy Precedent reveals the shocking truth of how, in 1971, just six months before they committed the massacre on Bloody Sunday, the same elite British Parachute Regiment was involved in the killing of eleven innocent catholics in one Belfast housing estate over the course of three days. As many as 30 more civilians were shot and injured.

The Pulitzer Center-supported feature-length film will have its U.S. premiere on Monday, June 10, 2019, at the E Street Cinema, 555 11th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004. Doors open at 6:00pm. Screening begins at 6:30pm. Space is limited at this free event. Please reserve your seat today.

Emmy, BAFTA and Grierson-nominated director Callum Macrae will be on hand for a Q and A session after the screening of the film. The Ballymurphy Precedent will premiere in conjunction with the Pulitzer Center's 2019 Conference.

"I first began looking into this story four years ago," said director Macrae. "The more I spoke to people who were there at the time, including the survivors and the relatives, many of whom were then still children, the clearer it became that there was even more to this story than the tragedy of these appalling killings. I came to realise that understanding what happened over those three days is actually central to understanding what happened over the next 30 years in Northern Ireland."

“Callum Macrae's film is important for three reasons." said executive producer Christopher Hird of Dartmouth Films, the picture's UK distributor. "First, it puts the events firmly in their historic context - reminding us of the real roots of the conflict. Second, in a riveting and devastating investigation it disproves the official line that those who were killed were terrorists. Third, it shows the power of agency, as the survivors and the relatives of those killed are the ones who unearth the truth - a truth which, since the film, has been acknowledged by the British authorities. The film is particularly timely, raising as it does the issues of truth, justice and impunity as both the UK and the USA debate the best way to tackle events of the past.”

More praise for The Ballymurphy Precedent:

"Impressive..shocking….a desperately sad film.” - The Guardian

“A searing and emotionally charged documentary.” - Scannain

"A landmark film. The sheer humanity makes the crimes committed and the justice denied unforgettable.” - John Pilger

The premiere of the film will coincide with its VOD release on Amazon Prime Video in mid-June, and iTunes and other platforms in August. Theatrical screenings will be announced in the Fall. Janson Media is in discussions with several SVOD partners for a Q4 2019 or Q1 2020 release. The film had its UK premiere at the 2018 Sheffield Doc/Fest, and screened in dozens of cinemas across the UK and Ireland in the summer of 2018. Its theatrical run was followed by a primetime broadcast in September 2018, on Channel Four in the United Kingdom and RTÉ in Ireland.

About the Pulitzer Center
The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting is an award-winning, non-profit news organization that partners with journalists and newsrooms to support in-depth reporting on critical global issues to educate the public, promote solutions, and improve lives. Visit their website.

Read more about the film and watch the trailer at The Ballymurphy Precedent official website.

On Twitter
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