The untold story of the murder that shook the world.|Dec. 25, 2020|USA|119 Min.|PG-13
Genre: Documentary
Description: The film “The Dissident,” released in 2020, explores the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi and Saudi Arabia’s attempts to suppress international dissent. Central to the documentary is the story of Saudi activist and video blogger Omar Abdulaziz. Director Bryan Fogel aimed to delve deeply into Khashoggi’s murder and its wider implications. A CIA report released by the Biden administration implicated Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Khashoggi’s death. However, Fogel believes the prince will likely evade an Interpol arrest warrant or formal investigation due to his immense wealth.
The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2020. In September 2020, Briarcliff Entertainment secured distribution rights. It was released in limited theaters on December 25, 2020, followed by video on demand on January 8, 2021. Despite its critical nature, the film faced challenges in finding a distributor for eight months and was notably excluded from major streaming platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. This is widely attributed to fears of offending the Saudi Arabian government and potential subscriber loss.
Fogel expressed disappointment when Jeff Bezos, owner of The Washington Post, acquired the UAE-based e-commerce site Souq.com shortly after refusing to release “The Dissident” on Prime Video. The documentary remains a bold examination of Khashoggi’s assassination and the broader implications for dissent and accountability.
Cast director: Bryan Fogel
Cast actor: Jamal Khashoggi, Omar Abdulaziz, Mohammad bin Salman, İrfan Fidan, Agnès Callamard, Hatice Cengiz, John O. Brennan, Fahrettin Altun, Anthony J. Ferrante, Abdulhamit Gul
Original name: The Dissident