The ‘Black Code’ documentary film, based on Citizen Lab Director Ron Deibert’s book of the same name, will be in theatres as of April 14th, 2017. The film will also be screened as part of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival, amongst other film festivals and events. Black Code was published in May 2013, and written by Citizen Lab Director Ron Deibert. The book outlines the work of the Citizen Lab and the threatened state of digital rights that the Citizen Lab’s evidence-based research seeks to uncover.
The documentary made its world premier at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September 2016.
Director Nicholas de Pencier traces individuals who travel the world to expose global digital espionage. The film features activists from Tibet, Pakistan, Syria, and Brazil who use social media and other information technologies to fight for privacy and other human rights. In addition, the film highlights Citizen Lab’s work in revealing key espionage campaigns against activists through the use of software developed by private firms.
Two screenings of the film will take place in London, UK. The first, on March 10, will be hosted at 9:00pm at the Picturehouse Central, and will be followed by a discussion with Director Nicholas de Pencier, Ronald Deibert (who will join the Q & A by Skype), Clara Gutteridge, Director of Justice Forum, and Dr Ala’a Shehabi, co-founder of Bahrain Watch. Another screening, with a discussion to follow, will take place on March 11 at Barbican at 6:15pm. Read more information on the venue and details of the London screenings, or purchase Tickets to the Human Rights Watch Film Festival.
The film will air at the Movies that Matter film festival at the Hague on March 25th and 28th, with the latter screening to be followed by a Q and A with Director Ron Deibert at 6:30pm. Read more details on timing, venue, and ticketing information.
The film will also be screened as part of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival in Toronto, on April 6 at 6:30pm at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. The Toronto screening will also be followed by a discussion session with Ron Deibert and Nicholas de Pencier. In another Canadian screening, this time in Vancouver, the Vancouver International Film Festival will air the film at the Vancity Theatre from April 14-16th, at various showtimes. The April 14th screening will be followed by a Skype Q and A with Ron Deibert. Read more information or buy tickets for the Vancouver screening.
The Calgary Film Festival will screen the film on April 5th at 7:00pm, at the Cineplex Eau Claire 5. Read more information or buy tickets to the Calgary screening.
Finally, the film will be screened at the Hong Kong International Film Festival on April 17th and 19th, at The Sky at 9:30pm, and the Grand Cinema at 7:45pm, respectively.
Watch the trailer of the Black Code documentary, read a review of the film by Sarah Jilani on Little White Lies, or follow the Black Code Film on Twitter.
