Several jobless first time filmmakers recently screened their documentary on homeless life, Hide and Go Homeless, in Victoria, B.C. The film caused a bit of a stir in its criticism of the lack of federal aid the homeless in Victoria were recieving. The filmmakers originially recieved their funding for the film from a federal organization, and against their backer’s wishes, they kept the originally cut film intact. From the National Post :

The young people learned about fighting the establishment and making sacrifices, says social worker Roderick Taylor, who oversaw the project.

However, the federally funded, non-profit Victoria agency that funded the filmmaking project balked at contributing about $1,000 to put the finished product on the screen, he said.

The agency said controversial statements in the documentary about the lack of long-term provincial and federal government commitment to help the homeless could result in funding cutbacks to their organization, Taylor said.

“They felt there was certain content in the film that was politically charged and that would jeopardize their charitable tax status,” said Taylor. “They asked the filmmakers if they would be willing to chop about 20 minutes out of the film, kind of cut it in half.”

The answer was no.

The film has been honoured with several community awards in Victoria. Portions of Hide and Go Homeless are posted on the National Film Board of Canada website.