ABOUT THE FILM.

Never in history has more evidence, and at great risk, been gathered against any regime for war crimes and crimes against humanity than that of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria. Almost like a thriller equally unprecedented efforts have been made to stop any attempt to secure justice and accountability while Syrians, many of whom themselves have been tortured and imprisoned by the regime like human rights lawyers Mazen Darwish and Anwar al- Buonni, have sought to overcome the impossible and are making history in their bid to ensure that Assad and all of those responsible for these crimes will be brought to justice. This is the story of the closing of the doors of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to the victims of the most egregious crimes in our time when Russia with China vetoed the referral of Syria to the ICC and how Syrians have responded with both courage and history-making creativity.

Already France and Germany through these efforts have issued international arrest warrants against regime leaders for crimes against humanity - an unprecedented use of universal jurisdiction which allows crimes to be tried outside the country where they are committed. Meanwhile, in Koblenz, the first trial of Assad regime security officers charged with crimes against humanity was committed to running one of the regime’s notorious torture prisons. But these efforts extend beyond France and Germany to other European countries and the United States. Evidence gathered against the regime by this remarkable movement also helped the family of the late Marie Colvin, the renowned reporter killed in Baba’amr in Homs by the regime, succeed in proving in the American courts that she was murdered by the regime with French photographer Rémi Ochlik. But as this documentary shows these varied and remarkable efforts as photojournalist Paul Conroy, Marie Colvin’s professional partner, said in the film are a response to the closing of the doors of the ICC and left it to people on the ground to respond to ensure all Syrians would have the right to justice and accountability.