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ABOUT THE FILM

The Nightcrawlers

Not Yet Rated

With unprecedented access, The Nightcrawlers is an unflinching exposé of Philippines President Duterte’s war on drugs, in which some claim over 20,000 people have been killed. RL, a former staff photographer for a prominent newspaper, leads the Manila Nightcrawlers, a small group of determined photojournalists on a mission to expose the true cost of the violent campaign. Through covering both sides of the conflict, The Nightcrawlers reveals a harrowing twist behind Duterte’s deadly crusade.

Rated: Not Yet Rated

PHOTO GALLERY

  • A woman fights with a police officer at a crime scene in Manila. (Photo by Ezra Acayan)

    A woman fights with a police officer at a crime scene in Manila. (Photo by Ezra Acayan)

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    A woman fights with a police officer at a crime scene in Manila. (Photo by Ezra Acayan)

    A woman fights with a police officer at a crime scene in Manila. (Photo by Ezra Acayan)

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  • A body lies on a Manila highway in the rain. (Photo by Ezra Acayan)

    A body lies on a Manila highway in the rain. (Photo by Ezra Acayan)

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    A body lies on a Manila highway in the rain. (Photo by Ezra Acayan)

    A body lies on a Manila highway in the rain. (Photo by Ezra Acayan)

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  • A woman cradles the lifeless body of her partner at a crime scene in Manila. (Photo by Basilio Sepe)

    A woman cradles the lifeless body of her partner at a crime scene in Manila. (Photo by Basilio Sepe)

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    A woman cradles the lifeless body of her partner at a crime scene in Manila. (Photo by Basilio Sepe)

    A woman cradles the lifeless body of her partner at a crime scene in Manila. (Photo by Basilio Sepe)

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  • A woman crying as seen in The Nightcrawlers. (Photo by Ezra Acayan)

    A woman crying as seen in The Nightcrawlers. (Photo by Ezra Acayan)

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    A woman crying as seen in The Nightcrawlers. (Photo by Ezra Acayan)

    A woman crying as seen in The Nightcrawlers. (Photo by Ezra Acayan)

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  • A Manila police officer takes a photo at a crime scene while a crowd watches in the background. (Genius Loki Film and Violet Films/Alexander A. Mora)

    A Manila police officer takes a photo at a crime scene while a crowd watches in the background. (Genius Loki Film and Violet Films/Alexander A. Mora)

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    A Manila police officer takes a photo at a crime scene while a crowd watches in the background. (Genius Loki Film and Violet Films/Alexander A. Mora)

    A Manila police officer takes a photo at a crime scene while a crowd watches in the background. (Genius Loki Film and Violet Films/Alexander A. Mora)

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  • Raffy Lerma photographs a woman holding the portrait of a child. (Genius Loki Film and Violet Films/Alexander A. Mora)

    Raffy Lerma photographs a woman holding the portrait of a child. (Genius Loki Film and Violet Films/Alexander A. Mora)

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    Raffy Lerma photographs a woman holding the portrait of a child. (Genius Loki Film and Violet Films/Alexander A. Mora)

    Raffy Lerma photographs a woman holding the portrait of a child. (Genius Loki Film and Violet Films/Alexander A. Mora)

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  • Raffy Lerma walks with a man through a graveyard in Manila. (Genius Loki Film and Violet Films/Alexander A. Mora)

    Raffy Lerma walks with a man through a graveyard in Manila. (Genius Loki Film and Violet Films/Alexander A. Mora)

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    Raffy Lerma walks with a man through a graveyard in Manila. (Genius Loki Film and Violet Films/Alexander A. Mora)

    Raffy Lerma walks with a man through a graveyard in Manila. (Genius Loki Film and Violet Films/Alexander A. Mora)

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    • TAKE ACTION

    How can you help?

    The film hopes to illuminate the importance of press freedom worldwide, while highlighting the work of journalists in uncovering human rights and other abuses around the anti-drug campaign in the Philippines.

    LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PHOTOJOURNALISTS FEATURED IN THE FILM


    Explore the Nights Watch collective  |  Facebook

    Explore the work of Raffy Lema  |  Website  |  Instagram

    Explore the work of Ezra Acayan  |  Website  |  Instagram

    DOWNLOAD A FREE DISCUSSION GUIDE


    Use this custom-developed Discussion Guide to help your students or community group engage in meaningful dialog around the topics featured in the film. Additional resources support deeper learning, and help further the conversation beyond the classroom or screening room setting.

    DOWNLOAD THE DISCUSSION GUIDE

    HOST A SCREENING


    We invite NGOs, local government organizations, community groups and colleges and universities around the country to host a free screening.

    Ask your local representative, or community leader to host a screening at your church or school. Organize a screening and discussion on your college or university campus. Or host your own.

    HOST A SCREENING

    ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE AROUND THE ISSUES RAISED IN THE FILM


    Send a link to the film with someone you would like to learn about this issue.

    Share the film on social media, with the hashtag #TheNightcrawlers.

    If you are from the Filipino diaspora we can help arrange a screening and discussion in your area to talk about these complex issues.

    WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

    ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FROM ORGANIZATIONS WORKING IN THE PHILIPPINES


    RAPPLER

    Rappler is a Philippine-based online news network using stories to inspire community engagement and digitally fuelled actions for social change. Their founder, Maria Ressa, an Award-winning former CNN bureau chief, has not been afraid to cast criticism. Read their latest stories on Duterte’s war on drugs​.


    REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS

    Reporters Without Borders is the world’s biggest NGO specialising in the defence of media freedom. Read their work on Philippine media independence​.


    COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS

    The Committee to Protect Journalists in an independent, nonprofit that promotes press freedom worldwide, defending the right of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal, and documenting hundreds of attacks on the press each year. Read their work on attacks against journalists in the Philippines.


    AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

    Amnesty International is the world’s leading human rights organisation, carrying out vital work reporting on the specific atrocities ongoing in the Philippines. They have called for the UN Human Rights Council to open an investigation into gross human rights violations committed as part of Duterte’s “war on drugs.” Read their latest report.


    HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH

    Human Rights Watch is a leading international NGO investigating and reporting on abuses happening in all corners of the world, undertaking urgent research into the ongoing extrajudicial killings in the Philippines. Read their work.