Tiburon International Film Festival

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Year:  2006
Running Time:  84 minutes
Country:  France
Genre:  Documentary
Cast:  Sibel Edmonds

Showtime:

Wednesday, March 19, 2008 @ 06:00 PM

Director: Mathieu Verboud & Jean Robert Villet

Description: A few days after the 9/11 attacks, Sibel Edmonds, 32, an American woman of Turkish origin, was recruited by the FBI as a language specialist with top-security clearance. Her job was to translate counter-intelligence wiretaps related to ongoing criminal investigations. After two months, Edmonds reported serious wrongdoings in the conduct of investigations and a case of espionage within her unit. Her claims weren’t taken seriously.

In March 2002, she was fired from the FBI, physically escorted from the building, and warned “Don’t talk!” But Edmonds brings a lawsuit. A few months later, then-Attorney General John Ashcroft invokes the all-encompassing blanket of the State Secrets Privilege in the case. Not only Sibel is forbidden from publicly exposing classified information, she can’t even go to court with any of her allegations.

A tense real-life thriller, Kill the Messenger explores the abuses behind the State Secrets Privilege, and shows the persecution of other US national security whistle blowers.

The filmmakers spent nearly two years researching and interviewing experts, including Daniel Ellsberg, Coleen Rowley (FBI), Russell Tice (NSA), Bogdan Dzakovic (DHS), John Vincent (FBI), Steve Elson (FAA), John M. Cole (FBI). Like the National Security Whistle blowers Coalition, the film highlights the danger that government suppression brings to light.

West Coast Premiere

Awards:

- «Prix de la meilleure investigation», FIGRA 2007

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Screening With: Security

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