Advertisement
Housing

Rupert Murdoch attends premiere for film about homelessness

The media mogul was there to support Jerry Hall, who has a small role in the film about a theatre company for homeless people

The premiere of a powerful new film about homelessness in contemporary London featured a very unexpected guest: media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

The executive chairman of News Corp joined his wife Jerry Hall and youngest daughter Chloe at a screening of Arran Shearing’s movie Forgotten Man, a portrayal of a struggling young actor in a theatre group for homeless people.

The fictional group is actually based on Cardboard Citizens, the UK’s only homeless people’s professional theatre company.

Murdoch was there to support Hall, who has a small part in the black and white drama (below). The model and actress has previously performed on Broadway, the West End and made a brief appearance in Tim Burton’s Batman.

According to the Loving Dalston website, Murdoch was spotted, harangued and called a very rude word by a young Corbynista as he left the Hackney Picturehouse.

But perhaps the revealing new film, shown as part of the East End Film Festival, gave Murdoch some new programming ideas or subjects for newspaper coverage?

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Advertisement

Festival director Alison Poltock was surprised by his attendance, and hoped the portrayal of some of London’s most disadvantaged people might leave a lasting impression.

“I don’t know whether to laugh or cry,” said Poltock. “The film in question, Forgotten Man addressed the stigma of homelessness so I do hope it made a positive impact on him.”

Other work screened at the festival included the documentary Austerity Fight, a look at poverty, inequality and cuts to public services.

www.eastendfilmfestival.com

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

Never miss an issue

Take advantage of our special subscription offer. Subscribe from just £9.99 and never miss an issue.

Recommended for you

Read All
Introduce inspections for temporary housing to stop children living in horror homes, Labour told
a child at the window of their home
Homelessness

Introduce inspections for temporary housing to stop children living in horror homes, Labour told

Tenants win more than £250,000 of rent back from billionaire landlord in five-year legal battle
Somerford Grove Renters in Hackney
Renting

Tenants win more than £250,000 of rent back from billionaire landlord in five-year legal battle

Electric van to help charity deliver 50,000 meals to homeless people
Four people stand around an electric van
Homelessness

Electric van to help charity deliver 50,000 meals to homeless people

This is the devastating impact growing up in temporary accommodation has on children’s GCSE results
school children at desks
Education

This is the devastating impact growing up in temporary accommodation has on children’s GCSE results

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue