Here (left to right) are film group member Irena Carey, winners Julianna Corso, Anthony DeWael and Riley Rhodes and Cindy Storey of the film group.
Nearly 600 people turned out to the Capitol Theatre Monday night to see the movie Spotlight, the latest film brought to the community through the efforts of the Chatham-Kent Film Group.
Spokesman Cindy Storey said it was important that the film, which highlights a Boston Globe investigation into
sexual abuse within the Catholic church was shown in Chatham.
“We had a very well publicized problem in Chatham a number of years ago and the story resonates here,” she said. “It’s part of our mandate to bring important films to Chatham, films which might not otherwise make it here.”
The film tells the story of how a team of Boston Globe reporters discovered one a decades-long cover up of sex abuse by priests in Massachusetts.
The movie won Best Picture and Best Writing – Original Screen Play at the 88th Academy Awards earlier this year.
In a Chatham court in 2006, Father Charles Sylvestre pleaded guilty to indecent assault against 47 young girls and was sentenced to three years in prison. He died after only three months of his sentence.
Authorities called it North America’s largest case of non-residential school sex abuse by a Roman Catholic priest.
The case was significant enough to have Chatham listed among affected communities in the movie’s closing credits.
Storey said the film group has been in existence for about 20 years. Another part of its mission is to encourage young filmmakers through bursaries.
“Thanks to the work of our members, we’ve been able to start a bursary program,” she said. “We’ve awarded funds for about seven years now.”
The group brings films to the community on a monthly basis. Its next presentation will be A Brilliant Young Mind on July 4 and Remember on Aug. 8. Both are at the Capitol Theatre at 7p.m.
For more information on the CKFG, visit the group’s Facebook page or webpage at http://ckfilmgroup.blogspot.ca
