On the President's Orders

A shadowy image taken at night, backlight by a car's headlamps. Two men are in combat gear with guns and helmets speaking to a young person in tshirt and shorts.

Screenings

2019 Season
East Africa digital edition, New York

In 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte announced a “war on drugs” in the Philippines, launching a wave of violence and murder targeting thousands of suspected drug dealers and users. With unprecedented, intimate access both to police officials implicated in the killings and the families destroyed as the result of Duterte’s deadly campaign, On the President’s Orders is a shocking and revelatory investigation into the extrajudicial murders that continue to this day. Entering a murky world of crime, drugs and politics, the filmmakers have managed to capture the clear trajectory of what depths those who wield excessive power can reach, when attacking those who have the very least.

 

 

Filmmaker(s): 
James Jones and Olivier Sarbil
Country of Production: 
United Kingdom and USA
Year: 
2019
72m
Language(s): 
English, Tagalog, fully subtitled in English
Genre: 
Documentary
Filmmaker Bio(s): 
James Jones
Director / Producer
James Jones is an award-winning British director who makes documentary films for international television and theatrical release. His documentaries tackle important issues through powerful personal stories told in a filmic style and narrative. He has made films about police shootings in America, suicide in the military, wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and undercover investigations in Saudi Arabia and North Korea. His background in current affairs investigations means the films still have a hard journalistic edge while using the craft techniques of documentary. His films have won two Emmys, three DuPonts, a Grierson, a Rory Peck, a Frontline Club, a Royal Television Society, a Broadcast Award, two Overseas Press Club of America, two Golden Nymphs, and a Venice TV Award, as well as being nominated five times at the BAFTAs. Recently, he co-directed the Emmy-winning Mosul with Olivier Sarbil.
Olivier Sarbil
Director / Cinematographer

Olivier Sarbil is an award-winning French documentary director and Emmy-winning cinematographer based in London. Over the past decade, Olivier has covered conflicts and critical social issues across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and North America. With strong visual storytelling, Olivier’s films are intimate and human, conveying emotions through beautiful and cinematic imagery. His work has been recognised with awards from a variety of organisations, including, Emmy for Outstanding Cinematography, DuPont, Royal Television Society, One World Media, Overseas Press Club of America, Broadcast Awards, Bayeux-Calvados for war correspondents (twice), Golden Nymph, Rory Peck, Venice TV Award, Frontline Club, Grand Award and Gold Medal at the New York Festivals International TV & Film. His imagery has also garnered a BAFTA Nomination for Best Cinematography.

Distributor: 
PBS Distribution
Film Website: 
On the Presidents Orders Film Website

“On the President's Orders is an unflinching exploration of President Duterte's brutal ‘drug war’ and its devastating impact on thousands of mostly poor Filipinos.”

-Carlos Conde, Researcher, Asia Division, Human Rights Watch

To learn more on this topic visit HRW.org