In an era when truth is relentlessly under siege—crushed by state machinations, corporate interests, and an apathetic populace complicit in totalitarian tendencies—these films compel us to confront the daily reality faced by independent journalists. Courage in the Crossfire is an unflinching chronicle of both historic and ongoing struggles for a free press, offering intimate portraits of those who risk their lives reporting the truth. Together, these films offer a panoramic view of the multifaceted struggle for objective journalism. They alert viewers to an environment where fabricated news, corrupted media institutions, and state-sanctioned violence are not anomalies but part of a broader assault on truth. In witnessing these narratives, we are urged to remain vigilant—as citizens, activists, and consumers—to protect and nurture the vital role of the free press.
SCREENING SCHEDULE
Day 1 | Friday, 11 July
4 pm | While We Watched
Directed by Vinay Shukla
This film provides an incisive look into a newsroom fighting to maintain its integrity amid egregious attempts at media manipulation. It captures the steadfast resolve of journalists battling sensationalism, misinformation, and the gradual erosion of truth in a landscape increasingly dominated by political expediency.
7:30 pm | Endangered
Directed by Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing
This sobering portrait explores the personal risks borne by those who persist in documenting truth. It captures both overt and insidious forms of suppression—where fear, intimidation, and violence converge to stifle voices that dare to expose corruption and injustice.
Day 2 | Saturday, 12 July
4 pm | Writing With Fire
Directed by Sushmit Ghosh and Rintu Thomas
Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh’s Academy Award nominated film 'Writing With Fire' is an exploration of truth, justice and the meaning of power, through the lens of an all-women’s newsroom in India.
7:30 pm | Bad Press
Directed by Joe Peeler and Rebecca Landsberry-Baker
An unflinching look at the collusion between state power and corporate interests, this film dissects how news agencies can be compromised from within. It warns of a dire future where profit and political expediency replace accountability.
Day 3 | Sunday, 13 July
4 pm | The Killing of a Journalist
Directed by Matt Sarnecki
A stark exploration of the ultimate price paid by those who dare to stand against authoritarian repression, the film exposes how dissenting voices are systematically exterminated.
7:30 pm | A Thousand Cuts
Directed by Ramona S Diaz
Serving as a metaphor for the gradual, cumulative assault on free expression, this film reflects on how incremental challenges can, over time, congeal into a systemic silencing of dissent.
Bandhu Prasad-Aleyamma
Bandhu Prasad-Aleyamma is an arts manager and curator of the film and performing arts. With two decades of experience in performing arts management, he has associated with IFFK, IDSFFK and Kochi-Muziris Biennale. A recipient of ARThink South Asia Fellowship he also has served on the expert committee on performing arts at India’s Ministry of Culture. He is the curator of Manorama Hortus, a multi-disciplinary arts and literature festival organized by Malayala Manorama in Kerala.
