Lessons from a School Shooting
Following Sandy Hook, a Scottish priest offers advice learned from tragic gun violence in his town
2018 | Running Time: 22 minutes | Rating: NR
Following the Sandy Hook massacre, a priest from Dunblane, Scotland reaches out to a priest in Newtown, Connecticut offering support 16 years after a school shooting in his own town. As Newtown’s Father Bob Weiss is tasked with the burial of eight of the 20 school children who lost their lives, he receives a letter from Dunblane’s Father Basil O’Sullivan. The Scottish priest then journeys across the Atlantic to lend his support and the two men bond over personal trauma and responsibilities. Though the two school shootings were similar in many ways, Dunblane motivated the UK to reform its gun laws while after Sandy Hook, the US responded with inaction. The film premiered at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival. Director/Producer: Kim A. Snyder; Producer: Maria Cuomo Cole; Executive Producers: Kim Brizzolara, Carolanne Dolan, Geralyn Dreyfous, Mara Sandler, Regina K. Scully, Nick Stuart, Jim Swartz, Susan Swartz
Kim A. Snyder, Director
Kim A. Snyder is an award-winning director, producer, and advocate for film’s ability to promote social change. Her endeavour to create socially conscious films inspired her to co-found the BeCause Foundation, which makes documentary films taking on complex social issues. Her films include LESSON FROM A SCHOOL SHOOTING (2018), NEWTOWN (2016) and WELCOME TO SHELBYVILLE (2009)
Maria Cuomo Cole, Producer
Maria Cuomo Cole is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, activist and advocate, whose acclaimed documentaries have tackled leading social issues like gun violence, homelessness, PTSD, domestic violence and sexual violence. Her films that have altered our social and political landscape include LESSON FROM A SCHOOL SHOOTING (2018), NEWTOWN (2016), THE HUNTING GROUND (2015) and THE INVISIBLE WAR (2012).
Tribeca Film Festival 2018: Best Short Documentary
United Nations Association Film Festival 2018: Grand Jury Prize – Best Short
“It’s a well-outlined and touching human story that deservedly took home Tribeca’s Best Documentary Short Film award at this year’s festival.”
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Tags: Documentary, Short, History, Gun Violence, Grief, Trauma & Healing, Religion, Politics