The New Documentary from Filmmaker Ramona S. Diaz
Opens in Theaters and Virtual Cinemas
on August 7
A THOUSAND CUTS examines social media disinformation campaigns and the current brutal crackdown on the news media in the Philippines by President Rodrigo Duterte – who has made prominent journalist and TIME Magazine’s Person of the Year, Maria Ressa, one of his top targets.
At great personal risk, Ressa, the founder and chief executive of the independent news site Rappler has been at the forefront of holding Duterte and his government accountable for their violent war on drugs. In response, Duterte has barred Rappler reporters from the presidential palace and revoked Rappler’s license. On June 15, Ressa was found guilty in a “cyber libel” case that has been seen by press freedom advocates as the latest attack by Duterte’s administration on press and broader freedoms in the country.
“The fact that A THOUSAND CUTSbecomes more relevant every passing day not only in the Philippines, but globally is alarming,” states director Diaz. “Right now, it is more important than ever to amplify Maria’s story because there are many Marias all over the world. Without a free press, democracy crumbles.
“We stand with fellow journalists like Maria Ressa in their quest for the truth, and we are proud to bring her story to our PBS audiences,” says FRONTLINE Executive Producer Raney Aronson-Rath. “The current events in the Philippines along with her conviction and the shutdown of one of the main television networks illustrates the looming threats against press freedom that could begin to happen everywhere.”
Will open in theaters and virtual cinemas nationwide on August 7 and will air on PBS in January 2021.
More information on A THOUSAND CUTS can be found at: athousandcuts.film.
