Background

Fifty years after the enactment of the Murder (Abolition of the Death Penalty) Act 1965, which suspended and effectively abolished the death penalty for murder in England, Scotland and Wales, Howard League Scotland will host a screening of a documentary about the death penalty in the USA. The death penalty remains a legal sanction in 31 US states, although six states have abolished the death penalty since 2007. However, there remain around 3,000 people on death row in the US today.

The documentary

One For Ten is a series of short documentary films profiling innocent people who were on death row in America before being exonerated and released. The films were all made on a 5-week, 5,500-mile road trip across the US, with the audience contributing questions along the way.

The Penalty is a 90-minute documentary film following three people caught in the crossfire of capital punishment, and the political landscapes that dictate their fate. The film is currently in post production, set for release in early 2016.

The screening

This event will feature three films from the One For Ten series, and a chance to see selected clips from The Penalty before it is released. We will be joined by the filmmakers for an insight into the filmmaking process as well as the issues the films raise. The event will be followed by a Q&A session with the filmmakers.

The organiser

The Howard League was founded in 1866, the year of the first Royal Commission on capital punishment that recommended an end to public executions. The charity led the campaign for abolition for the next century. Howard League Scotland was established in 1979. Although we share the same aims and objectives as the Howard League in England and Wales, we are an independent charity, with our own constitution and a dedicated focus on penal reform in Scotland.

The filmmakers

One for Ten was directed by Will Francome and Mark Pizzey, and produced by Laura Shacham and Megan Garner. The Penalty is their follow-up project, directed by Will Francome and Mark Pizzey, and produced by Laura Shacham. Mark and Will have been directing together for the last 4 years.

Advice on age rating

Please note that whilst there is no official age rating for this documentary, the filmmakers are of the view that the screening is appropriate for those aged 14 and upwards. The documentary contains no footage of any executions. One scene shows members of the media who had witnessed an execution discussing how an execution by lethal injection had gone wrong. There are one or two incidences of swearing in the documentary.