Fergus and Francesca’s Freebie for Freedom From Torture

Feeling a surge of charitable goodwill, we headed down to Freedom from Torture to see if we could help them with their promotion…

Freedom from Torture work with torture survivors from all over the world, providing a range of therapies, medical services and welfare and legal advice and support.

There was a need for two films – one to introduce John McCarthy on the 20th anniversary of his release from captivity in Lebanon and another to show what Freedom for Torture does and their need for continuing donations from their supporters.

Francesca and Fergus teamed up and dived into the BBC archives, plucking out every news story on John McCarthy, which would become a 2 minute intro montage to show the 1943 days he spent in captivity. They then joined Marika Chaplais at the FFT center and spent a day interviewing therapists and clients to produce a documentary on the great work the organisation does and why it is so important to support it now more than ever.

You can watch the films here and here.

‘The film about Freedom from Torture was beautifully shot and edited, and has been described as ‘moving, lucid and dignified’. It was all we wanted and more. It’s always tricky for us to find a way to express what we do here, yet Fergus and team managed to do this perfectly. I know that this powerful film will be a tool which we use for years to come.’

‘The film about John, which I have now watched a hundred times and still moves me to tears, was the perfect introduction to John’s speech, and has been spoken about much since.’

The films were screened at the BT tower, where the organisation raised more than £30,000 during a day of speeches, workshops and the opportunity to take a ‘flight’ up to the top of the tower to view London.

So impressed with Freedom From Torture, Fergus is swimming 10k down the River Dart in September to support their cause. He hopes to raise £1000, and you can help him to do it, by clicking here.