A powerful documentary exploring the Canadian government’s use of security certificates to hold non-citizens indefinitely based on secret evidence is hitting the big screen.
The Secret Trial 5 premiered at the Hot Docs Canadian International Film Festival in Toronto this weekend and will be screened again on April 28 and 30. The film will later be shown in various cities across the country before being released digitally.
The narrative centres around the stories of four Muslim men who were held without charge for a total of 30 years combined without ever being able to see or challenge the evidence of their alleged terrorist activity. The fifth man being held on a “security certificate” did not participate in the film.
The doc shows how the law has affected the lives of these men and their families in irreparable ways through deeply personal interviews, archival footage, newspaper clippings, and in interviews with lawyers, academics and activists.
Director Amar Wala was born in India and moved to Canada with his family when he was 11. He obtained a degree in film production from York University, where he also produced his award-winning short film, “The Good Son” and which led to the filming of The Secret Trial 5, his first feature film.
The documentary is being released just as the Supreme Court of Canada is set to rule on whether or not the updated law on security certificates is constitutional.
Check out the trailer for the film, below:
To learn more about the film and the issues, visit the website at http://secrettrial5.com/
