Best Documentary
Syria’s War Crimes | The Journalist and her Jailers
More than a decade after Syria’s Arab Spring uprising turned into one of the bloodiest civil wars in modern history, justice for countless victims remains elusive. Bashar al-Assad’s regime has reclaimed much of the country, leaving behind a legacy of destroyed cities, mass torture, and tens of thousands of disappeared people.
The Journalist and Her Jailers follows Luna Watfa, a Syrian journalist and survivor, who fled Assad’s prisons to start a new life in Germany. Now, she returns to confront her past as a key witness in a groundbreaking war crimes trial. The accused: Anwar Raslan and Eyad al-Gharib, two former Syrian intelligence officers charged with crimes against humanity, including torture, rape, and mass murder. This historic trial, held in a small German courtroom under the principle of universal jurisdiction, represents a rare chance at accountability when global powers and international courts have failed.
As Luna grapples with painful memories, she searches for meaning in the pursuit of justice—not just for herself, but for tens of thousands of Syrian victims. Can this trial offer closure? Or even hope for a new kind of justice in a world where impunity often reigns?
Director : Adithya Sambamurthy
Production : Tondowski Films Production - Alex and Ira Tondowski
Published Mar 28, 2025
