SILENCING THE PRESS / 2010 / 26' / SD /

Directed by Pierre Peyrot & Gerhard Jöre, Produced by Mondopop

Almost exactly two years ago, on 23 November 2009, 32 media professionals were massacred in Maguindanao province, on the southern island of Mindanao, by a private militia controlled by the local governor’s family.

The tragedy’s shocking nature did not reside solely in the record number of journalists killed but also in the criminal desire of the perpetrators to eliminate all the witnesses, down to the very last man and woman.

It is the single largest single massacre of media professionals ever recorded. Even before this event, the Philippines was considered to be the world’s most dangerous place to be a journalist. This films looks at the reasons for that, and meets many of the journalists that have survived to tell their story.

Screener/Online viewing link available on request here

Please click on any image below to view a short clip