Tribute in Place for Restrepo Filmmaker

TORONTO: Hot Docs has set up a special one-off charity screening of Restrepo, in memory of co-director Tim Hetherington, who was killed in an explosion in the Libyan city of Misrata last week.

The screening will be held at the TIFF Bell Lightbox theater in Toronto on May 7 at 3 p.m., during the Hot Docs festival. All proceeds from the screening will be donated to a charitable organization that will be determined by Hetherington’s family to honor his life, work and humanitarian initiatives around the world.

Sebastian Junger, who co-directed the Afghanistan war doc with Hetherington, is expected to attend the screening, also hosting a Q&A session after the film. Junger said: “Tim devoted his life to documenting the human cost of war, and he has now become part of that cost.  As his colleague and close friend, I know that Tim’s paramount concern was civilian suffering during war, and he would want us to do everything in our power to alleviate that suffering. The world lost a very great man, but I know that Tim’s work will continue to bring us insight and understanding for decades to come. He will be deeply missed.”

Tickets for the screening are on sale now, available for CAD$20 online at hotdocs.ca. National Geographic Films is also taking part in this charity screening.

Lisa Truitt, the president of National Geographic Cinema Ventures, commented: “We are shocked and deeply saddened. Tim was a very special and talented man, and we will always be inspired by his vision and passion. He was willing to take incredible risks to show us a true and unbiased picture of our world, and for that dedication he paid the ultimate price. Our hearts go out to his family and friends.”
 
Chris McDonald, executive director of Hot Docs, added: “Hot Docs is honored to host this special screening of Restrepo. Tim’s untimely death is a tragic loss, and I’m sure our audience and documentary colleagues will join with us in paying tribute to his remarkable life and work.”