International Premiere
Though often relegated to a footnote in the aftermath of 9/11, the Battle of Seattle — otherwise known as the 1999 Seattle World Trade Organization protests — was a watershed moment foreshadowing 21st century American politics. Tens of thousands of peaceful protesters gathered in downtown Seattle in opposition to the antidemocratic effects of the WTO shaping economic globalization; in response, officials vilified the demonstrations, while ordering police forces to respond with escalating militarized force and tactics.
Painstakingly arranged from thousands of hours of archival footage — from protesters’ personal camcorders, police propaganda, news reports, bystanders — director Ian Bell reconstructs events with a panoramic view of the conflict from every possible perspective, revealing how narratives were constructed and manipulated in real time along ideological lines. An immersive experience exposing the myopic machinations of politicians and corporate interests in the face of democratic, nonviolent protests, it’s also breathtakingly prescient; a preview of present-day American politics, injustice, and the consolidation of power.
Oct 7: Q&A
Presented by
Community Partner
USA
2025
English
Book Tickets
Credits & Director
Executive Producer
Rachel Price
Producer
Laura Tatham, Alex Megaro, Ian Bell
Editor
Alex Megaro, Ian Bell
Original Music
Third Coast Percussion
Ian Bell
Ian Bell is the creator of VICE’s Source Material, a first of its kind found-footage news series. His short documentary, 808: How We Respond (2018), premiered at Sheffield Doc Fest, was in competition at AFI Docs, and won Best Documentary Short at the Tallgrass Film Festival. As a supervising producer at VICE News he contributed to the Emmy-nominated VICE on Showtime, VICE News Tonight, and VICE Special Report. Bell is an alumnus of Washington Filmworks’ Innovation Lab, Champs-Elysees US in Progress, Gotham’s Spotlight on Documentaries, and No Borders Film Market.
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