Callum Macrae on Human Rights Violations During Sri Lankan Civil War

Award-winning documentary filmmaker Callum Macrae visits Washington University in St. Louis on Monday, February 9, as part of his two-week, multi-city Pulitzer Center-organized U.S. visit. His film No Fire Zone investigates allegations of war crimes committed during the final days of the Sri Lankan civil war during which an estimated 40,000 to 70,000 civilians died.

During his midday talk in St. Louis, Macrae explores his documentary's subject matter and his post-production efforts to raise awareness of these human rights issues. Pulitzer Center Executive Director Jon Sawyer joins Macrae for the discussion.

Through powerful personal stories, eyewitness testimony and video evidence, No Fire Zone shows how thousands of civilians were told to gather in what the government promised would be a no fire zone and were then systematically shelled and deliberately denied adequate food and medicines. No Fire Zone incorporates direct evidence of summary execution, torture and sexual violence via footage recorded from within the zone on mobile phones and small cameras by both the victims and the perpetrators.

No Fire Zone is one of five films to win the 2014 BRITDOC Impact Award, which celebrates standout documentary films that are changing the world. The documentary also was nominated for an International Emmy Award.

Washington University in St. Louis is a founding member of the Pulitzer Center's Campus Consortium network. Macrae's visit is presented by the Pulitzer Center, in partnership with Washington University and its Whitney R. Harris World Law Institute at the School of Law.

Monday, February 9
12-1pm
Washington University in St. Louis
Anheuser-Busch Hall Room 309 - Trial Courtroom
St. Louis, MO 63130