No Fire Zone

This feature documentary is the product of a three-year investigation and tells the story of the final awful months of the 26-year-long Sri Lankan civil war:

This sometimes harrowing story is told by the people who lived through the war - and through some of the most dramatic and disturbing video evidence ever seen. This footage - direct evidence of war crimes, summary execution, torture and sexual violence - was recorded by

both the victims and perpetrators on mobile phones and small cameras during the final 138 days of hell which form the central narrative of the film.

No Fire Zone is directed by the Nobel Peace Prize nominee Callum Macrae,{{cite journal|title=ITN Team Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize|journal=Broadcast Now|url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/itn-team-nominated-for-nobel-peace-prize/5037484.article|accessdate=10 December 2014}} a Peabody{{cite web|title=Peabody Award for Sri Lanka's Killing Fields|url=http://www.channel4.com/info/press/news/peabody-award-for-sri-lanka-s-killing-fields-war-crimes-unpunished|website=Channel 4|accessdate=10 December 2014}} and Colombia Dupont Broadcast Journalism Award winner{{cite web|title=2012 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Award winners announced|url=http://www.journalism.columbia.edu/page/788-the-alfred-i-dupont-columbia-university-award-winners/594|website=Columbia Journalism school|accessdate=10 December 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014230323/http://www.journalism.columbia.edu/page/788-the-alfred-i-dupont-columbia-university-award-winners/594|archivedate=14 October 2012|df=dmy-all}} and Greirson{{cite web|title=Grierson Awards Shortlist 2013|url=http://www.griersontrust.org/past-awards/grierson-2013/shortlist.html|website=The Grierson Trust|accessdate=10 December 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210132608/http://www.griersontrust.org/past-awards/grierson-2013/shortlist.html|archivedate=10 December 2014|df=dmy-all}} and BAFTA nominee. It has already won many awards and is a nominee for an International Emmy Award 2014.{{cite web|title=International Emmy Award Nominees 2014 |url=http://www.iemmys.tv/awards_nominees.aspx |website=International Emmy Awards |accessdate=10 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111225002120/http://www.iemmys.tv/awards_nominees.aspx |archivedate=25 December 2011 }}

No Fire Zone has been described as something of an international phenomenon.{{cite web|title=Britdoc Impact Awards 2014|url=http://www.britdocimpactaward.org/files/nofirezone.pdf|website=Britdoc Impact Awards|accessdate=10 December 2014}} Not just an agenda setting investigation, but a cinematic tour de force – a stunning and disturbing film in its own right. It was described as "beautifully crafted and heart wrenching” by the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting in Washington,{{cite web|title=No Fire Zone" Screens at Pulitzer Center Week-Long Film Festival|url=http://pulitzercenter.org/blog/global-crises-human-stories-film-festival-no-fire-zone-screenings-sri-lanka-mass-murder|website=Pulitzer centre on crisis reporting|accessdate=10 December 2014}} "utterly convincing" by the Globe and Mail in Toronto - and in the UK, Empire noted: "It is vitally important that this feature reaches the widest possible audience”. One critic in Australia described it as “the most devastating film I have seen”, whilst the London Film Review says "No Fire Zone shocks on every level. It shocks, it educates, and it convinces"{{cite web|title=Online Now: No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka|url=http://www.thelondonfilmreview.com/film-review/review-no-fire-zone/|website=The London Film review|accessdate=10 December 2014}}

It has been widely praised by personalities as disparate as the rapper M.I.A{{cite web|title=M.I.A Website|url=http://miauniverse.tumblr.com/|website=M.I.A Official site|accessdate=10 December 2014}} and the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, who said: ”No Fire Zone is one of the most chilling documentaries I’ve watched…{{cite news|title=David Cameron warns of Sri Lanka 'questions'.Many of the images are truly shocking. This documentary raises very serious questions that the Sri Lankan government must answer about what it did to protect innocent civilians… Questions that need answers if Sri Lanka is to build the truly peaceful and inclusive future its people deserve.|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/srilanka/10438705/David-Cameron-warns-of-Sri-Lanka-questions.html|accessdate=10 December 2014|agency=Daily Telegraph}}”

In March 2013, the documentary was screened by its director, Callum Macrae, at the 22nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.{{cite news|title=Exposed in Geneva: Doublespeak of Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and FIFDH|publisher=Asian Times|date=2 February 2013}}

The film was not released in theatres in India as Central Board of Film Certification banned it in India as it would harm the nation's friendly relations with Sri Lanka.{{cite web | title=India denies public exhibition of film on life of Tamil journalist Shoba | website=Committee to Protect Journalists | date=4 June 2015 | url=https://cpj.org/2015/06/india-denies-public-exhibition-of-film-on-life-of-/ | access-date=11 April 2025}} In response to this attempt at censorship No fire Zone was released online for free in India and Malaysia as well as Sri Lanka and Nepal.{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/worldcinema/film-on-sri-lankan-war-banned-in-india/article1-1187291.aspx|title=Film on Sri Lankan war banned in India|first=Gautaman|last=Bhaskaran|publisher=Hindustan Times|place=Chennai|date=23 February 2014|accessdate=23 February 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223214811/http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/worldcinema/film-on-sri-lankan-war-banned-in-india/article1-1187291.aspx|archivedate=23 February 2014|df=dmy-all}}

In November 2014 the Musician M.I.A described No Fire Zone as “the only film that gives me faith in journalism. It's not only the most important account of what happened to the Tamils, it's actually become part of the fabric of their history."{{cite news|url=http://www.britdocimpactaward.org/films/nofirezone|title=Musician MIA on No Fire Zone|first= Maya|last=Arulpragasam|publisher=BritDoc Impact Award|place=London}}

Festival des Libertes 2013 - Winner of FIDH Best Film Award.{{cite web|title=FIDH@Festival Des Libertes 2013|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/fidh-international-federation-for-human-rights/sets/72157637631478564/|website=FIDH@Festival des Libertés 2013|date=19 October 2013 |accessdate=10 December 2014}}

CPH:DOX Copenhagen 2013 - FACT Award Jury Special Mention{{cite web|title=13 Films compete for FACT award|url=http://cphdox.dk/en/content/12-films-compete-fact-award-2013|website=CPH:Docs Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival|accessdate=10 December 2014}}

Nuremberg Film Festival 2013 - Winner of Audience Award{{cite web|title=The NIHRFF Audience Award went to No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka.|url=http://www.filmfestival-der-menschenrechte.de/en|website=Nuremberg International Human Rights Film Festival 2013|accessdate=10 December 2014}}

Film South Asia 2013 - Special Jury Mention.{{cite web|title=No Fire Zone wins special mention|url=http://www.filmsouthasia.org/film/no-fire-zone/|website=Film south Asia|accessdate=10 December 2014}}

WatchDocs Poland 2014 - Winner of Audience Award{{cite web|title=13th Watchdocs Audience Award|url=http://www.watchdocs.pl/2014/a/13th_watch_docs_audience_award-article-161-en.html|website=Watchdocs International film Festival|accessdate=10 December 2014}}

One World Film Festival Prague 2014 - Winner Václav Havel Jury Special Mention{{cite web|title=And the winner is...|url=http://www.oneworld.cz/2014/news/553-and-the-winner-is.htm|website=One World Film Festival|accessdate=10 December 2014}}

Docudays UA - Kyiv 2014 - Winner of Jury Special Mention.{{cite web|title=Winners|url=http://www.docudays.org.ua/eng/archivepage/2014/post-relis|website=Docudays UA|accessdate=10 December 2014}}

Festival internacional de Cine y Video de Derochos Humanos Buenos Aires 2013 - Winner Jury Special Mention.

Oslo International film festival 2013.

Movies That Matter 2013{{cite web|title=Movies that Matter 2013|url=http://www.moviesthatmatter.nl/english_index/festival/programma_en/film_en/1296|website=Movies that Matter|accessdate=10 December 2014}}

FIFDH Geneva 2013{{cite web|title=FIDH 2013 Geneva|url=http://www.fifdh.org/2013/index.php?rubID=16&lan=en&filmID=264|website=FIDH|accessdate=10 December 2014}}

Tricontinental Human Right Film Festival 2013.{{cite web|title=Tricontinents Film Festival 2013|url=http://www.3continentsfestival.co.za/?p=316|website=Tricontinents Film Festival|accessdate=10 December 2014}}

Freedom Film Festival Malaysia 2013{{cite web|title=Freedom Film Fest 2013|url=http://freedomfilmfest.komas.org/freedom-film-festival-2013-2/|website=Freedom Film Fest Malaysia|accessdate=10 December 2014}}

Addis International film Festival 2013.

Sheffield Documentary Festival 2013{{cite web|title=Sheffield Documentary Film Festival 2013|url=https://sheffdocfest.com/films/show/5553|website=Sheffield Documentary Film Festival|accessdate=10 December 2014}}

No Fire Zone (TV version) was nominated for Best Documentary at the 2014 International Emmy Awards{{cite web|title=International Emmys Nominees 2014 |url=http://www.iemmys.tv/awards_nominees.aspx |website=International Academy of Film and Television Sciences |accessdate=10 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111225002120/http://www.iemmys.tv/awards_nominees.aspx |archivedate=25 December 2011 }} and was awarded the Britdoc Impact Award {{cite web|title=Britdoc Impact Award Winners 2014|url=http://www.britdocimpactaward.org/|website=Britdoc|accessdate=10 December 2014}} as well as being shortlisted for a Grierson award {{cite web|title=Grierson Awards Shortlist 2013|url=http://www.griersontrust.org/past-awards/grierson-2013/shortlist.html|website=The Grierson Trust|accessdate=10 December 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210132608/http://www.griersontrust.org/past-awards/grierson-2013/shortlist.html|archivedate=10 December 2014|df=dmy-all}}

Despite the painstaking checking and independent verification of the footage contained within the film,{{cite web|title=The Uncorrupted Truth Page 40|url=http://www.channel4.com/microsites/S/sri-lankas-killing-fields/The%20Uncorrupted%20Truth_R7.pdf|website=Channel 4|accessdate=11 December 2014}}{{cite web|title=Interview by Ceylon Today with No Fire Zone director Callum Macrae|url=http://www.ceylontoday.lk/59-35117-news-detail-i-intend-to-be-present-at-chogm.html|website=Ceylon Today|accessdate=11 December 2014}} the Sri Lankan government continue to maintain that the footage contained within the film is faked.{{cite web|title=Sri Lanka disputes truth of documentary on alleged war crimes by its soldiers|url=http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/south-asia/sri-lanka-disputes-truth-of-documentary-on-alleged-war-crimes-by-its-soldiers|website=The National|date=16 June 2011 |accessdate=10 December 2014}} However, as more and more evidence continues to emerge this position becomes ever more untenable.

In March 2014 the United Nations Commission on Human Rights voted to establish an independent international inquiry{{cite news|title=U.N. Approves Investigation of Civil War in Sri Lanka| work=The New York Times | date=27 March 2014 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/28/world/asia/un-rights-council-sri-lanka.html?_r=0|accessdate=10 December 2014| last1=Cumming-Bruce | first1=Nick }} into the events covered in the film and subsequent and ongoing human rights abuses in Sri Lanka. Despite the international mandate for this inquiry the government of Sri Lanka has refused to cooperate {{cite web|title=UN rights chief condemns 'disinformation campaign' to discredit Sri Lanka probe|url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=49278#.VIhEansRlyx|website=UN News Centre|accessdate=10 December 2014}} and has denied the UNCHR investigators entry to Sri Lanka.{{cite news|title=Sri Lanka president adamant on barring U.N. war crimes investigators|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sri-lanka-rights-idUSKBN0GJ0NT20140819|website=Reuters|date=19 August 2014 |accessdate=10 December 2014}}

The Government of Sri Lanka have also been active in trying to prevent the film being seen. Just prior to No Fire Zone being screened at the Film South Asia festival in Nepal, the Nepalese government were pressurised by the Government of Sri Lanka into trying to have the advertised screening stopped.{{cite web|title=Film Southasia kicks off amid pressure to ban 3 Lanka films|url=http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2013/10/03/top-story/film-southasia-kicks-off-amid-pressure-to-ban-3-lanka-films/254347.html|website=Kathmandu Post|accessdate=10 December 2014}} The organisers of the festival ignored the ban and held two screenings rather than the single advertised screening.

Again in Malaysia, despite the film having already been screened at the Malaysian parliament, a private human rights organisation screening of the film in Kuala Lumpur was raided and the organisers arrested.{{cite web|title=Malaysian Police Raid Screening of No Fire Zone|url=http://pulitzercenter.org/blog/malaysia-police-raid-sri-lanka-callum-macrae-director-no-fire-zone-human-rights-genocide-tamil-tigers-violence-commonwealth-UN|website=Pulitzer Centre on Crisis Reporting|accessdate=10 December 2014}}

Just prior to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting held in Colombo in November 2013, a book entitled Corrupted Journalism{{cite web|title=Corrupted Journalism and Channel 4|url=http://www.corruptedjournalism.com/book/Corrupted%20Journalism.pdf|website=Corrupted Journalism|accessdate=10 December 2014}} appeared. The book, published and written by a group called "Engage Sri Lanka",{{cite web|title=Engage Sri Lanka|url=http://www.engagesrilanka.com/index.html|website=Engage Sri Lanka|accessdate=10 December 2014}} is believed to be an attempt by the Sri Lankan government to propagate the pro-government stance that the allegations made in the film and the previous two documentaries shown on UK television by Channel 4 are false. The book was even included in the delegate pack at the conference{{cite web|title=Sri Lanka, 'Corrupted journalism' and Channel 4 News|url=http://www.channel4.com/news/sri-lanka-corrupted-journalism-and-channel-4-news|website=Channel 4|date=9 November 2013 |accessdate=10 December 2014}} until removed at the insistence of the Commonwealth Secretariat. Links to the publication also appeared on the Home pages of Sri Lankan Embassy websites around the world.

In response to the allegations made within this book Channel 4 published a detailed rebuttal written by the film's director Callum Macrae entitled The Uncorrupted Truth {{cite web|title=The Uncorrupted Truth|url=http://www.channel4.com/microsites/S/sri-lankas-killing-fields/The%20Uncorrupted%20Truth_R7.pdf|website=Channel 4|accessdate=10 December 2014}}

The documentary was banned in India from theatrical release as it would damage ties with Sri Lanka.{{cite web | url=https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/%E2%80%98no-fire-zone%E2%80%99-documentary-banned-india | title='No Fire Zone' documentary banned in India | publisher=Tamil Guardian | date=21 February 2014 | accessdate=5 July 2021}}{{cite web | url=https://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=37065 | title=New Delhi bans Channel 4 documentary on 'killing fields' of Tamils | publisher=Tamilnet | date=23 February 2014 | accessdate=5 July 2021}}

In November 2014 the producers released an updated version of the film containing new evidence, including footage showing the capture, alive, of the LTTE TV presenter Isaipriya. Previously the Sri Lankan government had claimed she had died in battle.{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/news/fate-of-tamil-actress-chilling-new-evidence-from-sri-lanka |title=Fate of Tamil Propagandist: New Sri Lanka evidence |date=31 October 2013 |publisher=Channel 4 |accessdate=Apr 14, 2015}}

This update also included an interview with one of the Tamil doctors who had been trapped in the No Fire Zone. During the war the doctors told the world of the terrible conditions in the no Fire Zone, but after the war they were arrested and he held by the Sri Lankan Criminal Investigation Department. While in captivity they were forced to appear at a stage managed government press conference and deny everything they said from the war zone. In this interview - a longer version of which appeared on Channel 4 news in the UK - the most senior of the doctors revealed that he and the other doctors had been forced by Sri Lankan military intelligence to change their story - and confirmed that what they had said from the war zone was indeed accurate.{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/news/sri-lanka-war-crimes-inquiry-doctor-varatharajah-thariajah |title='I cried every day': inside Sri Lanka's 'No Fire Zones' |date=26 March 2014 |publisher=Channel 4 |accessdate=Apr 14, 2015}}

In January 2015 it was announced that the producers were working on a Sinhala language version of the film to be released later that month.{{cite web|url=http://www.jdslanka.org/index.php/analysis-reviews/human-rights/503-getting-the-truth-out-creating-a-sinhala-version-of-sri-lankas-killing-fields |title=Getting the Truth Out: Creating a Sinhala version of 'Sri Lanka's Killing Fields' |publisher=Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka |accessdate=Apr 14, 2015}} Also in January 2015, following the defeat of President Rajapaksa in Sri Lanka's presidential election, the film was re-released with a further update in time for a US campus tour organized by the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting starting in February 2015.{{cite web|url=http://pulitzercenter.org/event/no-fire-zone-callum-macrae-us-tour-campus-consortium |title=Callum Macrae US Tour: No Fire Zone |publisher=Pulitzer Center |accessdate=Apr 14, 2015}}

In 2013, Alistair Burt, the minister in charge of Sri Lanka, said that the British government expected the Sri Lankan government to "guarantee full and unrestricted access for international press covering Chogm" when Cameron announced he would be attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka. However, Bandula Jayasekara, a top Sri Lankan diplomat stationed in Australia and a former key media adviser to Rajapaksa, tweeted a message to Callum Macrae while he was there to promote the No Fire Zone. Callum Macrae was accused of being "hired by [Tiger] terrorists as a full time propagandist for the bloodthirsty terror group overseas" and Bandula Jayasakara threatened to "make sure you don't get a visa".{{cite news |last1=Macrae |first1=Callum |author1-link=Callum Macrae |title=Sri Lanka: Slaughter in the no fire zone |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/03/sri-lanka-slaughter-no-fire-zone |access-date=22 March 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=3 September 2013 |location=London, U.K.}}

Additionally, Callum Macrae got many online death threats after telling a Sri Lankan publication that he planned to travel there to cover Chogm. "You are welcome to come to Sri Lanka", one said, "only to go back in a coffin". Another urged,

"Callum Macrae, please do not travel to Sri Lanka. In a white vehicle, you will be kidnapped and taken to see Lasantha Wikremasinghe [sic]."

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|http://nofirezone.org}}
• [http://www.channel4.com/programmes/no-fire-zone/4od No Fire Zone] on 4oD
• {{IMDb title|2949516}}
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml3KprXzufg No Fire Zone film trailer]

Category:2013 British television series debuts

Category:2013 in Sri Lanka

Category:Channel 4 documentaries

Category:Documentary films alleging war crimes

Category:Documentary films about the Sri Lankan civil war

Category:British documentary television films

Category:Film censorship in India

Category:Censored films

Category:War crimes in the Sri Lankan civil war

Category:Political controversies in India

Category:Political controversies in film