The world's first permanent International Criminal Court is making headlines - issuing an arrest warrant for a sitting head of state for war crimes, Sudanese President Al-Bashir. Behind the charges: the court's controversial Prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo. Our cameras follow the Prosecutor in New York as he defends the warrant at the UN Security Council; in The Hague, as he opens the Court's first trial of alleged Congolese war criminal Thomas Lubanga; and in the Congo as he meets citizens affected by the trial. Critics say Moreno-Ocampo's justice threatens peace. Champions of justice criticize his weaknesses. The Prosecutor must keep one step ahead of them all.

A film by Barry Stevens | Canada | English | 2010, Doc, 95mins

Based in part on the book "The Sun Climbs Slow: The International Criminal Court And the Struggle for Justice" By Erna Paris

Produced by White Pine Pictures in co-production with the National Film Board of Canada. In association with TVOntario, SRC and The Knowledge Network with the participation of Rogers Documentary Fund and the Canada Media Fund.

Worldwide Distribution: National Film Board of Canada

writer
Barry Stevens

narrator
Barry Stevens

director
Barry Stevens

editor
Manfred Becker

producer
Julia Bennett
Peter Raymont
Lea Marin

director of photography
Brian Kelly
Mark Ellam

sound
Bruce Cameron
Peter Sawade

music
Aaron Davis
John Lang

story editor
Julia Bennett

research
Diana Dicklich

archival materials - research
Erin Chisholm

archival materials - clearance
Erin Chisholm

sound supervisor
Russell Walker

re-recording mixer
Dustin Harris
Stephen Traub

sound effects editor
Steve Blair

foley
Jakob Thiesen

"Courage is the word that first comes to mind when viewing this important film. Not only the courage of Luis Moreno Ocampo, the extraordinary lawyer at its center, the heart and soul of the International Criminal Court. But also the courage of the film-maker, who has valiantly refused to simplify one of the most complex, painful and relevant issues of our time: how to bring to justice the powerful of this planet who have committed crimes against humanity?"
-Ariel Dorfman
Poet, Author, Human Rights Activist

"Powerful film-making that pulls few punches. Both the ICC and its first prosecutor are controversial and complex. Both have many obvious strengths and possibly fatal flaws. To a real extent, the future of international justice are in their hands. "Prosecutor" asks all the tough questions and raises all the big issues. This is a documentary for a thinking audience."
-Dr. Gerald Caplan
Author, "Rwanda: The Preventable Genocide"

"Compelling….a piece of history.
- Carol Off, CBC Radio As It Happens

Broadcasts:

TVO, Canada - 11 - 15 May 2011

BBC Storyville, UK - Thursday, June 2nd, 2011, 9pm
BBC Storyville, UK - Friday, June 3rd, 2011, 2.55am

Screenings:

World Premiere at IDFA 2010

Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival (Thessaloniki) 11 - 20 March 2011

Dallas International Film Festival (Texas) 6 - 7 April 2011

DOXA Documentary Film Festival (Vancouver) 6-15 May 2011

One World Human Rights Film Festival (Prague) 17 - 26 May 2011

United Nation (NYC) 7 June 2011

Durban International Film Festival (South Africa) 25 July 2011

International Human Rights Film Festival of Paris 12 and 13 March, 2012

International Human Rights Film Festival of Gironde, France 11>13 January, 2013