Free screenings May 2 in Old Massett, May 3 in Queen Charlotte, explore the story behind the destruction of the sacred Kiidk'yaas
April 22, 2015 – Toronto – National Film Board of Canada
The destruction of the Kiidk'yaas―the sacred Golden Spruce―has been a devastating loss for the Haida people, one felt far beyond Haida Gwaii. Now, Sasha Snow's new feature documentary, Hadwin's Judgement, explores how and why BC forest engineer and survivalist Grant Hadwin's emotional crusade against clear-cutting ended in such a shocking act.
Direct from its world premiere at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, Hadwin's Judgement is being presented by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) at two free public screenings on Haida Gwaii: on May 2 at the Tluu Xaada Naay Longhouse in Old Massett, starting at 7 p.m., followed by a May 3 screening at The Legion in Queen Charlotte, starting at 7:30 p.m.
Director Sasha Snow will be in attendance at both events, along with NFB Executive Producer David Christensen and NFB Commissioner Claude Joli-Coeur.
Hadwin had thrived for many years in British Columbia's remote and ancient forests. But witnessing the devastation wrought by clear-cutting finally drove him to commit what some would call a perverse act, one that ran contrary to all he had come to hold sacred.
Inspired by the award-winning book The Golden Spruce, Hadwin's Judgement is written and directed by Sasha Snow, and produced by Elizabeth Yake (True West Films), David Allen (Passion Planet), and David Christensen and Yves J. Ma (NFB).
Quick Facts
Sasha Snow is an award-winning filmmaker whose work interweaves documentary elements and dramatic reconstruction. His first major international co-production, Arctic Crime & Punishment (2002), follows a murder investigation and trial in a remote village in Greenland. In 2006, he completed Conflict Tiger, an environmental thriller that examines poaching and the hunt for a “man-eating” tiger in the forests of Siberia. The film won eight grand prizes and was nominated for the Wildscreen One Planet Award. In 2010, Sasha received the Environmental Filmmaker of the Decade Award at the Green Planet Movie Awards. Hadwin's Judgement is his latest film.
Quotes
“I had no doubt that the story would resonate with an international audience, and I managed to persuade some key people on Haida Gwaii that my intentions were good, and that the result was likely to be worth it. I will return to Haida Gwaii with the completed film, partly as a gesture of thanks and respect to the people who helped us make the film, but also for the community to come and judge for themselves whether the film's ends ultimately justified the means.”
Sasha Snow,
Filmmaker
“The NFB is committed to producing works that give a voice to important, underrepresented stories from every part of Canada―and to sharing these perspectives with all Canadians. Hadwin's Judgement is an excellent example of this mission and I look forward to being with the people of Haida Gwaii, and to hearing from them at these two public events.”
Claude Joli-Coeur,
Government Film Commissioner and NFB Chairperson
Related Products
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Associated Links
Hot Docs.ca
sashasnow.com/
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About the NFB
The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) creates groundbreaking interactive works, social-issue documentaries and auteur animation. The NFB has produced over 13,000 productions and won over 5,000 awards, including 9 Canadian Screen Awards, 8 Webbys, 12 Oscars and more than 90 Genies. To access acclaimed NFB content, visit NFB.ca or download its apps for smartphones, tablets and connected TV.
