"An unforgettable collision of hope, faith and desperation … at once pensive and visceral." – Hollywood Reporter

In the crumbling backwaters of Memphis, forgotten by business and government alike, single mother Melva (The Wire's Edwina Findley) struggles to stay afloat in the face of poverty and the demands of her autistic son, Benny (RaJay Chandler in a stand-out debut performance). Turning in desperation to a local Pentecostal church and its charismatic leaders, Melva falls under the spell of faith healer Abe (David Harewood), whose own darkened past offers more questions than answers. Abe believes he can heal Benny, but miracles rarely come without a heavy cost.

Winner of the Orizzonti Award for Best Film at the Venice Film Festival, Free in Deed is the powerful, unflinching sophomore feature from writer/director Jake Mahaffy (AD 1363, the End of Chivalry, MIFF 2015). Based on true events and shot with a documentarian's eye for human drama, Mahaffy's film offers a pointed, enthralling meditation on the tragic consequences that too often arise when the desperation of the poor comes face to face with institutional apathy and the ineffable offerings of faith.

"A potent, provocative story of faith misplaced … searing, skeptical but roundly compassionate." – Variety

MIFF Artistic Director MIchelle Carey will host a Q&A with Jake Mahaffy at the session on 4 August.

Rhys Graham will host a Q&A with Jake Mahaffy at the session on 7 August.