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Documentary on death of Jamal Khashoggi wins human rights award
9 March 2021
The Dissident, a documentary film directed by Bryan Fogel, has won the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) Human Rights Film Award 2021. The award is presented as part of the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival.
Watch the ICCL jury speak about why they chose The Dissident as the 2021 winner.
The documentary, which will be screened online on 11 March, follows the shocking case of Jamal Khashoggi, the murdered journalist and prolific critic of Saudi Arabian governance. Featuring unprecedented access to those closest to him, Fogel’s investigative documentary untangles the extraordinary circumstances of his death and his life’s work.
Chair of the ICCL jury, activist Sinéad Burke, said:
“Jamal Khashoggi’s death wasn’t an anomaly. We chose this film because it proves the importance of being able to speak truth to power. It narrates the importance of journalism. And it teaches all of us the responsibility we each have to ensure our political and personal actions are used to create equity, inclusion and safety”.
Actor Brian Gleeson, who also sat on the jury, said:
“The issues at the heart of this well-made and intelligent film are of profound geopolitical importance right now. Part of the reason we decided to go with this film was so that as many people as possible would go see it.”
The Dissident beat off competition from five other films: The Reason I Jump; Father; A Worm in the Heart; Limbo; and Acasa My Home.
Gráinne Humphreys, Festival Director, said:
“The strength and diversity of the 2021 ICCL competition titles reveals the importance of a focus on this kind of cinema and an opportunity for Irish audiences to view the festival line-up from a different perspective. As ever my congratulations to our colleagues in the ICCL and to the winning filmmaker Bryan Fogel whose film we are delighted to present this year.”
The winning film was decided by a five-strong jury chaired by advocate and educator Sinéad Burke. Sinéad was joined on the panel by actor Brian Gleeson, campaigner and podcaster Andrea Horan, Direct Provision activist Bulelani Mfaco and film director/writer Aoife Kelleher.
This is the 10th year of the ICCL Human Rights Film Award, and the third in conjunction with the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival.
ENDS/
Find details on all the nominated films here: https://www.iccl.ie/news/iccl-announces-six-films-for-2021-film-award/
Tickets to see The Dissident available here:
https://watch.eventive.org/vmdiff/play/6015c5bee0efb20098f21268/
Sinéad Burke is a teacher, writer, broadcaster, fashion-admirer and advocate for disability and design. Sinéad has given a TED Talk, has spoken at the World Economic Forum in Davos and according to the Business of Fashion, is a leader in the Age of Influence.
Brian Gleeson is best known for his roles in PEAKY BLINDERS and LOVE/HATE, and was nominated for an IFTA for the latter. He also played Jimmy Mahon in RTE’s Rebellion and has a wealth of theatre experience. He will soon be seen in Channel 4/Amazon comedy FRANK OF IRELAND, which he wrote with Domhnall Gleeson and Michael Moloney. Brian is passionate about how film can tell the story of human rights. He previously sat on the ICCL film award jury in 2014.
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) is Ireland’s oldest independent human rights campaigning organisation. We monitor, educate and campaign to secure human rights for everyone in Ireland.
For media queries: sinead.nolan@iccl.ie