NEW YORK (December 9, 2020) – THE DISSIDENT, a new feature film directed by Academy Award-winning director Bryan Fogel and produced by the Human Rights Foundation (HRF), will arrive on streaming platforms for viewers to rent or own beginning January 8, 2021. Briarcliff Entertainment, the film’s distribution partner, has also announced a limited national theatrical release on Friday, December 25.
The film exposes the labyrinth of deceit behind the high-profile October 2018 murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. Featuring never before seen surveillance footage and unprecedented access to a wealth of other damning information previously unavailable to the public, the film weaves together a story of courage, money, power, tyranny, love, and technology run amok.
“THE DISSIDENT is a chilling illustration of what results from unchecked power,” said HRF president Thor Halvorssen. “It shines a powerful light on the darkness of authoritarianism. Dictatorships are undone by public exposure and we are committed to taking this story across the world, enlisting the partnership of the general public and civil society across the political and ideological spectrum to hold MBS and his henchmen accountable.”
The feature documentary film premiered to rave reviews at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2020. Since then, sold-out screenings at the Zurich Film Festival, the Stockholm International Film Festival, Aspen Filmfest, SCAD Savannah Film Festival, DOC NYC, and other top festivals have confirmed the film’s status as one of the year’s most promising releases.
What Critics Are Saying
“Edge of your seat intrigue. Riveting. A thriller of staggering relevance. This is a movie with just about everything.”
–Owen Gleiberman, Variety
“Completely shocking and gripping. Thriller paced. Like the best of journalism… needs to be seen by as many people as possible, as quickly as possible.”
–Nick Allen, RogerEbert.com
“A searing, slickly filmed deep dive.”
–Alissa Wilkerson, Vox
“Compelling. A propulsive cinematic thriller.”
–Anthony Kaufman, ScreenDaily
“Chilling. Visual and dramatic.”
–Steve Zeitchik, The Washington Post
“Immaculately assembled. Both a documentary and a real life thriller. A massively damning non-fiction work. Fogel fashions a shadowy international tale of intrigue. It deserves to be seen widely.”
–Jake Coyle, AP
“First rate. Riveting. Vigorous, deep and comprehensive. Tragic, maddening and poignant. The evidence is all here for the world to see.”
–Todd McCarthy, The Hollywood Reporter
“One of the most important films of the last decade.”
–Alec Baldwin
Where To Watch
THE DISSIDENT will be released in select U.S. theatres on Christmas Day. For updates on these locations, subscribe here.
Following the theatrical release, THE DISSIDENT will be available on January 8th, 2021 to rent or own via Amazon, Apple TV, Verizon, iTunes, Comcast, ATT, DIRECTV, Dish, Spectrum, Frontier, Fandango Now, Vudu, and Redbox On Demand.
Briarcliff Entertainment is handling all U.S. domestic distribution for THE DISSIDENT, and HanWay Films is representing the film for international sales. For interview requests or media inquiries, please contact inquiries@thedissident.com.