DEAR CITIZENS OF DEMOCRACY...

Published in Walrus Magazine (Canada) during June-August:

One of the fundamental signs of a healthy democracy is the transparency of and access to information.  Among documentary filmmakers there is growing concern that this is being undermined and restricted.
Documentary filmmaking is about sharing stories that are either being ignored, suppressed or forgotten, to entice public dialogue and interest. We feel that part of our role as documentary filmmakers is to uphold these tenents of democratic dialogue. In a healthy democracy social, economic, and political criticism and analysis is vital.
Unfortunately, even in democratic countries such as ours, a collusion of power entities are degrading these democratic values and inhibiting the release of films. Our profession, like democracy itself, is being obstructed.

We are writing this open letter to alert the public of the following problems:

• Intimidation, pressure and harassment of filmmakers and those they interview, especially when corporate financial interests are at stake;


• Conflicts of interest that hinder films from securing Errors and Omissions insurance (insurance companies avoid insuring films who investigate their biggest clients. Without E&O insurance, it is very difficult to release films in North America);


• Lawsuits that block the release of films denouncing corporate crimes;


• Consolidation of media outlets, unchecked by government;


• Broadcasters who place advertising dollars and lowest common denominator thinking before freedom of speech and information;


• Government agencies delaying and avoiding the transmission of public information or not making government officials available for questioning;

Sincerely, we the undersigned,
Emmanuelle Schick Garcia (Canada/France) - The Idiot Cycle
Peter Wintonick  (Canada) - Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media
Fredrik Gertten (Sweden) - BANANAS!*
Hubert Sauper (France) -     Darwin's Nightmare
Matthew Groff (U.S.A.) - U.N. Me
JoAnne Fishburn (Canada/UK) - All-Living-Things .org
Erik Gandini (Sweden/Italy)- Videocracy
Violeta Ayala & Dan Fallshaw (Australia) - Stolen
Mat Whitecross (U.K.) - The Road to Guantanmo
Tracy Worcester (U.K.) - Pig Business
Neasa Ni Chianain (Ireland) - Fairytale of Kathmandu

Paid for by JPS Films