3rd i SFISAFF: While We Watched

Filmmaker Vinay Shukla in person!

San Francisco Premiere

A riveting and essential film, WHILE WE WATCHED, directed by 3rd i alum Vinay Shukla (AN INSIGNIFICANT MAN), is an award-winning gem of a doc and not to be missed. It is an urgent reminder that we have much to lose if we can no longer tell fact from fiction. The film smartly captures the state of contemporary news media with a powerful character study of Ravish Kumar, prime-time Indian TV news anchor and journalist, and his unshakable quest to speak the truth and to hold power to account.

Shukla’s documentary poignantly chronicles the challenges Kumar faces as he strives to uphold standards of independence and accountability in the press. The emphasis of the film is on Kumar, and his perseverance against the normalization of authoritarianism, which forms the heartbeat of the story.

WHILE WE WATCHED is fast-paced, with sharp and unflinching commentary, and is essential viewing for anyone interested in how journalism and democracy are under threat. Although the film is rooted in India, its depiction of how misinformation is eroding fact-based news could apply to many countries.

Presented as part of 3rd I Film Festival.