US AND THEM on Parliament Hill

[OTTAWA, ON - 11 September 2017] At a time when Canada is in the midst of both a housing and opioid crisis, US AND THEM's national efforts to raise awareness about homelessness and addiction through a compassionate lens has never been more relevant. And now, following the success of it's national tour, US AND THEM is set to screen on Parliament Hill.

US AND THEM was written and directed by Loughton and award-winning filmmaker Jennifer Abbott who joined the project in 2013. Abbott is the co-director and editor of the widely acclaimed film THE CORPORATION, one of Canada's most successful documentaries. At a time when Canada is in the midst of both a housing and opioid crisis, US AND THEM's national efforts to raise awareness about homelessness and addiction through a compassionate lens has never been more relevant.

Since it's release in 2015, the film has been screened for policymakers all across Canada, and is now set to have an exclusive screening on Parliament Hill for all of Canada’s MPs on September 26. The event is being hosted by the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development. US AND THEM is also programmed to screen at the Union of BC Municipalities Conference in September. 

Krista Loughton is available for interviews and can be contacted directly at krista@usandthemthefilm.ca.

Special Screenings of US AND THEM Offer Insight into Growing Fentanyl & Homelessness Crisis

[1 May, 2017 – Halifax NS] After a series of prominent screenings across Western Canada and the prairies, filmmaker Krista Loughton is bringing her much-talked about documentary on chronic homelessness, US AND THEM to the Maritimes for three special public showings, sponsored in part by local United Ways. The film will also be screened to policy makers during the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association's Annual Congress in Halifax on May 2-4.

When US AND THEM was first filmed, Krista Loughton’s main ambition was to get Canadian’s talking about the struggles of homelessness and drug abuse, in order to grow compassion for the most vulnerable members of our communities. Krista knew that getting people to talk about mental health and addiction would be the first step to removing the stigma that many Canadians suffer silently with, and would be the catalyst to creating real change.

While Krista’s goal of starting genuine conversations about the state of Canada’s mental health and homelessness services has been met, now is the time for our Federal and Provincial governments to take action. With British Columbia’s fentanyl overdose epidemic spreading to the rest of the country, Canada needs to implement a plan that will protect communities from this flood of tainted drugs.

"If there was ever a time when the general public needed to see this film, it’s now. With fentanyl and its brutal twin carfentanyl contaminating street drugs of all sorts, it’s more important than ever for people to understand why addiction is a public health issue, not a criminal issue. US AND THEM influences a change in thought about the root causes of addiction and chronic homelessness. Helping to remove stigma will increase support for controversial solutions such as safe injection sites and prescribed heroin treatment, which will save lives in all communities.” – Krista Loughton

In addition to its upcoming Maritimes screenings, US AND THEM is set to make its parliamentary debut in June, when it will be screened on Parliament Hill to sitting members of government. It is Krista’s hope that because of the interest shown towards the film by various members of government, that services for Canada’s most at risk individuals will be improved.

For more information, visit usandthemthefilm.ca/screenings  

Krista Loughton will be available for interviews in anticipation of these screenings. 

Screening Details:

Date & Time: May 5, 7:00PM – 9:30PM

Location: Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre, 2158 Gottingen St, Halifax NS

Ticket Information: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/us-and-them-halifax-tickets-34056193993

Date & Time: May 9, 3:00PM – 5:30PM

Location: University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Rm 242 Don and Marion McDougall Hall, Charlottetown PE

Ticket Information: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/us-and-them-charlottetown-tickets-34055709544

Date & Time: May 11, 7:00PM – 9:00PM

Location: Community Peace Centre, 22 Church Street, Moncton NB

Ticket Information: http://www.gmsenbunitedway.ca

National Housing Day Screening of US & THEM, Hosted by Raising the Roof

[7 November 2016 – Toronto, Ontario] Following its emotional homecoming in La Loche, Saskatchewan, as well as a special presentation during the Union of BC Municipalities Annual Conference, US & THEM is set to have its largest screening yet.

US & THEM, written and directed by Krista Loughton and Jennifer Abbott of The Corporation, is set to screen on National Housing Day (Tuesday, November the 22nd) in support of Raising the Roof’s initiative to provided long-term solutions to homelessness.

First recognized in 2000, National Housing Day started as a way to draw attention to the hardships of homeless Canadians and to encourage policy makers to create real proactive changes. Since National Housing Day’s inception sixteen years ago though, Canada still does not have a national housing strategy. Raising the Roof hopes that this screening of US & THEM will keep the conversation going that its previous screenings have started, and get the attention of those that can influence real country-wide changes.

According to Krista, “US &THEM is a conversation starter. What it shows is that these people are really suffering and we need to be compassionate. If we can encourage people to be empathetic, the rest will fall into place and the discrimination will begin to end … Fact of the matter is, those that have suffered traumatic pasts need more care, not ignorance.”

Krista, and other to be announced speakers, will be offering a Q&A after the screening. All proceeds from this showing will go to support Raising the Roof’s goal of ending homelessness.

WHEN: November 22, 2016 at 7:00pm

WHERE: The Revue Cinema, 400 Roncesvalles Avenue

Tickets: $15, available on EventBrite.ca. 

Krista Loughton will be available for interviews in anticipation of this screening. To schedule an interview, please email Krista directly at krista@usandthemthefilm.ca.

Documentary Interviewee Returns Home to La Loche for Very Special Film Screening

[7 November 2016 – La Loche, Saskatchewan] Following two months of high profiled screenings, including one sponsored by The Centre for Addictions Research of BC, and a special screening during the Union of BC Municipalities Annual Conference, US & THEM is set to have a very special screening in La Loche, Saskatchewan.

US & THEM, written and directed by Krista Loughton and Jennifer Abbott of The Corporation, is set to screen in La Loche, on Friday, November the 18th (details to be announced). US & THEM not only offers a brutally honest look at the realities of chronic homelessness, but opens the eyes and minds of the audience by offering an empathetic view into the lives of the interviewees.

This screening in La Loche is especially poignant, as it is the hometown of one of US & THEM’s interviewees, Karen Montgrand. After falling into a life of living on the streets, Karen has been struggling to return home for over twenty years. Karen is excited to be able to see her elderly father, who she hasn’t seen since she first became homeless.

Karen’s niece, Myrna Laprise, also hopes that this screening will draw attention to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, and put some much-needed pressure on the RCMP to act on old cases. Myrna Laprise has been searching for answers to her aunt’s disappearance since 1979, when then-14-year-old Myrna Montgrand disappeared after an evening out with friends. After investigating around La Loche, Myrna [Laprise] is certain that she knows where her aunt’s body is buried. She wants the RCMP to excavate the area, so that the family can finally put Myrna to rest.

The screening location and time will be announced soon. Please visit www.facebook.com/usandthemmovie and usandthemthefilm.ca for details.

Both Krista Loughton and Myrna Laprise are available for interviews prior to the screening. To schedule an interview, please email Krista directly at krista@usandthemthefilm.ca

CineVic Press Release

CineVic Launches Classes for Burgeoning Filmmakers

[Victoria, British Columbia - 9 May 2016] Thanks to grass-roots organizations like CineVic, Victoria’s film scene is growing faster than ever before. If you’re interested in seeing what all of the buzz is about, but are new to the independent filmmaking scene, then check out CineVic’s Absolute Beginners classes this June!

Taught by Bryan Skinner, a graduate of Vancouver Film School with twenty years of film making experience, Absolute Beginners is a perfect place to learn the basics about film making in a supportive atmosphere.

Absolute Beginners is a four-day workshop, which will be delivered over two weekends:

June 18/19 and June 25/26, 2016
12:00pm - 4:00pm
CineVic (1119 Fort Street)
$175 members / $225 non-members

Spots are limited, so sign-up fast! Pre-register online at cinevic.ca