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Deep Dive: Sri Lanka's Killing Fields (2011)

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Sri Lanka's Killing Fields
Sri Lanka's Killing Fields is an investigatory documentary that examines the final weeks of the Sri Lankan Civil War, focusing on the severe human rights violations that occurred. It features graphic amateur video footage from civilians and Sri Lankan soldiers, depicting war crimes such as the execution of blindfolded victims and the shelling of civilian targets, including hospitals. The documentary incorporates interviews with survivors, United Nations staff, and human rights organizations, providing a comprehensive view of the conflict's impact on civilians. The film was produced by ITN Productions and presented by Jon Snow of Channel 4 News. It aired on June 14, 2011, and was met with strong criticism from the Sri Lankan government, which labeled it as fake. Despite this, forensic analysis confirmed the authenticity of the footage. The documentary has received several awards, including a BAFTA nomination and wins at the Royal Television Society's Television Journalism Awards and the One World Media Awards.

Why Watch

  • •See graphic footage of war crimes in Sri Lanka.
  • •Meet survivors sharing their harrowing experiences.
  • •Find out about the international response to the conflict.

Did You Know

•The documentary aired on June 14, 2011, on Channel 4.
•It won the Current Affairs – International category at the Royal Television Society Awards 2010–2011.
•The Sri Lankan government produced a counter-documentary titled Lies Agreed Upon.
•The follow-up film, Sri Lanka's Killing Fields: War Crimes Unpunished, was broadcast on March 14, 2012.

Perfect For

Human rights advocacyWar crime investigationsDocumentary filmmaking