Sasha King’s Vicky has been selected for the 30th edition of Hot Docs: Canadian International Documentary Festival, where it will receive its North American Premiere on 3rd May.
The documentary follows Vicky Phelan's journey behind the headlines of the CervicalCheck scandal. Following discovery that her smear test results were incorrect, a fact that had been deliberately withheld from her, Vicky realised there had to be other women similarly affected to her. She took the case to High Court, with no admission of liability on the part of the laboratory or health services. However she refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement and, undeterred despite her own diagnosis, vowed to seek justice on behalf of all those affected. It was later discovered that hundreds of women were misdiagnosed and could have benefitted from earlier treatment. Over twenty women have since died. Vicky’s actions changed the course of healthcare for Irish women and exemplifies what one person can achieve when they use their voice for the greater good.
The film was selected as part of European Film Promotion (EFP)'s The Changing Face of Europe, which brings ten outstanding European documentaries to the festival. The initiative is supported by the Creative Europe MEDIA Programme of the European Union and the participating EFP member organisations, including Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, Czech Film Center, Estonian Film Institute, German Films, Lithuanian Film Centre, SEE NL (The Netherlands), Slovak Film Institute, Swedish Film Institute, SWISS FILM and Unifrance. Media partners are Variety, POV Magazine, Business Doc Europe and Cineuropa.
The film is a Princess Pictures production produced by Sasha King, Bill Snodgrass and Vicky Phelan. Executive producers are Martina Niland and Lesley McKimm for Screen Ireland. It was released in Ireland last October by Volta Pictures.
Vicky will receive its North American Premiere at Hot Docs on Wednesday, 3rd May at 8pm and will screen a second time at the festival on Saturday, 6th May at 5.30pm.
