Film fest highlighting the importance of journalism comes to Waterloo
The 2024 International Journalism Film Festival kicks off April 28 at Waterloo’s Princess Twin Cinemas.
“The film festival is just one way to help build a culture of appreciation for quality journalism in aid of democracy,” said Mirko Petricevic of Ink-Stained Wretches, the organization putting on the event.
The festival is intended to raise awareness about UN World Press Freedom Day, which is observed annually on May 3. CTV News Kitchener is one of the sponsors.
In Waterloo, the documentary Killer Water: The toxic legacy of Canada's oil sands industry for Indigenous communities will be airing.
“We chose Killer Water not only for its focus on the environment, but because of its the press freedom aspect,” said Petricevic.
“In January, Edmonton police arrested and charged Indigenous journalist Brandi Morin, co-creator of the documentary, while she was covering the eviction of people experiencing homelessness. A number of press freedom and human rights advocacy groups — including Amnesty International Canada — protested her arrest and called for charges to be dropped. They were dropped… two months later,” he added.
Petricevic created Ink-Stained Wretches because he believes in local journalism and strengthening democracy.
“Martin Baron, former editor at the Washington Post, put it succinctly in his book Collision of Power,” said Petricevic. “‘Without democracy, there will be no independent press. And without an independent press, there can be no democracy.’ I like living in a democracy, and I suspect most viewers of CTV Kitchener do too!”
Festival details
- 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 28
- Princess Twin Cinemas, 46 King St. N., Waterloo, Ont.
- Tickets available at journalismfilmfestival.com
The screening of Killer Water will be followed by a panel discussion exploring the question: “How can we build a culture of appreciation for quality journalism?”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Family of toddler found dead at small-town Ont. daycare no closer to answers after year of investigation
A year has passed since two-year-old Vienna Irwin was found on the property of a home-based daycare in small-town Ontario, but her family says they are no closer to answers of what happened that day.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
Humboldt Broncos crash victims and families react to decision to deport truck driver
The family of one of the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018 says they are 'thankful' for a decision by a Calgary immigration board to deport the driver of the truck involved.
Fatal plane crash reported near Squamish, B.C.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has confirmed it is working with local Mounties and the BC Coroners Service after a plane crash near Squamish, B.C. Friday night.
'God forgives but we don’t': Loud outburst from stabbing victim’s family during sentencing hearing
An emotional outburst in a London, Ont. courtroom Friday disrupted the sentencing hearing of a woman who pleaded guilty for her part in the death of 29-year-old Mohammed Abdallah.
Three dead after vehicle plunged down a 100-foot embankment in Shediac, N.B.
Three people have died after a vehicle veered off the road in Shediac N.B., Friday morning.
Appeal denied for Edmonton soldier accused of trying to kill her 3 children
An Edmonton woman found guilty of trying to kill her three children has been denied an appeal.