Australia’s largest cinema chain screens Assange film before High Court appeal
On the eve of Julian Assange’s final UK High Court appeal, Event Cinemas is screening The Trust Fall: Julian Assange across more than 80 cinemas in Australia and NZ.
Calling it “the most shocking documentary release of 2024”, Event Cinemas has released the film ahead of both the London premiere next week, and Assange’s final appeal on February 20, where he will attempt to overturn Britain’s decision to green light Assange’s US extradition.
Assange was convicted under the antiquated US Espionage Act 1917, with a 175-year prison sentence hanging over his head.
The features high-profile Assange supporters and global experts, such as Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg, journalists Mary Kostakidis, Chris Hedges and Stefania Maurizi, Senator David Shoebridge plus Assange’s own family: Stella Assange, John Shipton, and Gabriel Shipton.
The film is narrated by Susan Sarandon, Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, rapper M.I.A and Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello. It is the directorial debut of Australian filmmaker Kym Staton.
“We applaud Event Cinemas for showing this highly political film and advocating for Assange and for free speech and world peace through this film,” Staton said.
“This is a film about a man who risked everything to bring the truth to light.”
Meanwhile, on Thursday, the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), called on the US government to drop the charges against Assange ahead of the trial.
“In the words of the Prime Minister, enough is enough,” said the Federal President of MEAA’s Media Section, Karen Percy.
“Julian Assange exposed wrongdoing and criminality when Wikileaks shed light on civilian deaths and possible war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan. That was clearly journalism in the public interest.
“The charges laid against him pose a profound threat to press freedom and for all journalists around the world.”
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Nathan Jolly is the Features Editor at Mumbrella. He joined the team in July, 2023.
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