Shadow World
Directed by Johan Grimonprez, 2016
Main Info
Creative documentary and web project, USA-Belgium-Denmark
Synopsis
SHADOW WORLD is a feature documentary that reveals how the international trade in weapons— with the complicity of governments and intelligence agencies, investigative and prosecutorial bodies, weapons manufacturers, dealers and agents— fosters corruption, determines foreign and economic policies, undermines democracy and creates widespread suffering. By revealing how this trade works, we aim to take apart the monolith that has been constructed as inevitable and justified by the media, and which has penetrated every layer of our societies — even as far as our psyche.
Social Media
Press
“Ontluisterend… De onthullingen bouwen één groot horrorscenario…”
De Standaard
****
Focus Knack
"Een ferme peer tegen uw appel. Een vlammende aanklacht."
Humo
Superb, gut-punching exploration of the global arms trade
Variety
A political cinematic masterpiece
Hollywood Progressive
An uncompromising exposure of what is really behind the arms trade
CineEurope
A riveting documenary
The Daily Maverick
Excellent film. Provocative and disturbing
Arts Express/WBAI Radio
Argues with alarming plausibility, that we have privatised the function of war
Doumentary
This documentary blew me away
Niteshifts/WBAI Radio
Press KitCredits
Directed by Johan Grimonprez
Written by Johan Grimonprez and Andrew Feinstein
Based on the book The Shadow World by Andrew Feinstein
Director of photography Nicole Mackinlay Hahn
Edited by Per K. Kirekegaard, Pedro Collantes and Dieter Diependaele
Original music Karsten Fundal
Produced by Anadil Hossain for DILLYWOOD, Joslyn Barnes for LOUVERTURE FILMS, Driss Benyaklef for DILLYWOOD, USA
Coproduced by Emmy Oost for ONOMATOPEE FILMS, Signe Byrge Sørensen for FINAL CUT FOR REAL
In association with BERTHA FOUNDATION, FORK FILMS, VITAL PROJECTS FUND, ITVS, RTBF TELEVISION BELGE - UNITE DOCUMENTAIRES, BRITDOC CIRCLE, ZAP-O-MATIK
With the major funding support of FLANDERS AUDIOVISUAL FUND, VITAL ADVISED FUND, A DONOR ADVISED FUND OF THE PROTEUS FUND, VITAL PROJECTS FUND, SUNDANCE INSTITUTE DOCUMENTARY FILM PROGRAM
With support from OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATIONS, FORD FOUNDATION | JUSTFILMS, SUNDANCE INSTITUTE CATALYST INITIATIVE, CINEREACH, GUCCI TRIBECA DOCUMENTARY FUND, WALLACE ACTION FUND OF TIDES FOUNDATION, on the recommendation of RANDALL WALLACE, DANISH FILM INSTITUTE - FILM COMMISSIONER HELLE HANSEN, THRESHOLD FOUNDATION’S HIGH IMPACT DOCUMENTARY FUND, CODEPINK
Additional funding support was provided by DAVID STEELE LIVING TRUST, ANGELE SEAY, JOSEPH BIAO
Outreach support was provided by BERTHA BRITDOC CONNECT FUND
Awards
Best Documentary Feature at Edinburgh International Film Festival 2016
Special Jury Mention at 2016 Guanajuato International Film Festival, Mexico
Time of History Award (Best Documentary) Valladolid International Film Festival, Spain
Ensor Best Documentary 2017 Filmfestival Oostende, Belgium
Ultima for film Johan Grimonprez is awarded with the annual Flemish Culture Prize
Selections
Tribeca Film Festival 2016 (USA)
San Francisco International Film Festival 2016 (USA)
Encounters South African International Documentary FF 2016 (SA)
Edinburgh FF 2016 (UK)
Durban FF 2016 (SA)
New Zealand Film Fest 2016 (NZ)
DokuFest 2016 (Kosovo)
Film Festival Kitzbuehel 2016 (AT)
Film Fest Gent 2016 (BE) Belgian premiere
Vancouver Film Festival 2016 (CA)
Reelworld Film Festival 2016 (CA)
Antenna Documentary Film Festival 2016 (AU)
Dokumentarkino 2016 (NO)
IDFA 2016 (NL)
Right Now Film Festival 2016 (UK)
Amnesty International Film Festival | Festival Cinéma & droits humains 2016 (FR)
Transparency International 2016 (DK)
Doc Point Helsinki Documentary Film Festival 2017 (FI)
Docville 2017 (BE) National Selection
WOW Wales One World Film Festival 2017 (UK)
WOW Wales One World Film Festival 2017 (UK)
Festival of Tolerance - Zagreb Jewish Film Festival 2017 (HR)
Millennium Docs against Gravity FF 2017 (PL)
TRT documentary Awards (TR)
World Without Peace 2017 (South Korea)
My Raynes Park Festival 2017 (UK)
South Africa National Arts Festival 2017 (SA)
Lesomos International Documentary Film Festival 2017 (CY)
Freedom Film Fest 2017 (MY)
Peckham & Nunhead Film Festival 2017 (UK)
IMPAKT Festival 2017 (NL)
Belmundo Festival 2018 (BE)
Belmundo Festival 2018 (BE)
World sales
