Red Lines is a documentary film produced by Spark Media in 2014.[1] It depicts the ongoing civil war in Syria and the efforts of activists Mouaz Moustafa and Razan Shalab-al-Sham to raise international support for the revolution and to promote democracy in the Middle East.

Red Lines
Release Poster for Red Lines
Directed byAndrea Kalin and Oliver Lukacs
Written byAndrea Kalin
Produced byAndrea Kalin
StarringMouaz Moustafa
Razan Shalab Al-Sham
Abu Jaffar
Abu Abdulrahman Al-Soory
Abu Yahia
May Aljblawieah
Jamil Saib
Noura al-Amir
Samer al-Hilal
Assia Shihab
Moaz al-Khatib
Senator John McCain
Edited byOliver Lukacs
Music byArmand Amar, and Syrian composers, musicians, and vocalists who wish to remain anonymous due to security concerns.
Distributed byFilmBuff
Release date
  • April 29, 2014 (2014-04-29) (Hot Docs)
Running time
99 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Synopsis

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In 2011, protests against Syrian president Bashar al-Assad turned into a violent conflict between the Syrian government and revolutionaries. As the revolution continues, wealthy Syrian socialite-turned-activist Razan teams up with Syrian-American lobbyist Mouaz to forge a link between the Free Syrian Army, the Syrian Emergency Task Force, and the West. However, their goal of a free and democratic Syria is put under strain as the revolution in Syria turns from bad to worse, and Western governments prove reluctant to get involved, despite the growing humanitarian crisis.[2]

Release

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Red Lines debuted in Toronto, Canada at the Hot Docs film festival in April 2014, where it was named in the festival's Top 20 Audience Picks.[3] The film was later acquired by distribution company FilmBuff and released through Video On Demand in July 2014.[2] The film broadcast on Free Speech TV.[4] The original soundtrack was released through CD Baby.

Reception

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Following its premiere at Hot Docs 2014, Bob Turnball of "Eternal Sunshine of the Logical Mind" deemed Red Lines as "an early candidate for the most moving film of the festival."[5] Red Lines was also acclaimed to be "one of the most inspiring films this year" by Myrocia Watamaniuk, International Programmer for Hot Docs.[6] Sam Cooper of Pretty Clever Films noted that Red Lines was, "easily…one of the most important films at this year's Hot Docs."[7] We Got This Covered describes the film as "eye opening" and "will have you on the edge of your seat."[8] Red Lines was the winner of Best Documentary Feature at Woodstock Film Festival[9] in 2014, which was also the films United States premiere.[10] Red Lines also received the Gold TIVA-DC Award,[11] a Gold Pixie Award for the animated closing credits,[12] the Tiburon International Film Festival Humanitarian Award,[13] three IndieFEST awards including the Humanitarian Award [14] and the Award of Excellence,[15] the Global Film Humanitarian Award,[16] and most recently the Ramdam Film Festival Most Disturbing Film Award.[17] The UK premiere took place September 25 at the Rich Mix Cultural Foundation.[18][19]

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References

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  1. ^ "Red Lines (2014)". IMDb. 29 July 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Red Lines on FilmBuff". Filmbuff.com. 2014-08-11. Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2015-11-25.
  3. ^ "Hot Docs". Archived from the original on 24 September 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  4. ^ "Free Speech TV".
  5. ^ Bob Turnbull (22 March 2014). "Eternal Sunshine Of The Logical Mind". Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  6. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlLuk3EvkWg&list=UUSe61Z_RCPT2l-itc3Nuf1w&index=3 (1:23)
  7. ^ "Hot Docs 2014: Red Lines (2014)". Pretty Clever Films. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  8. ^ "Red Lines Review [Hot Docs 2014]". We Got This Covered. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  9. ^ "Woodstock Film Festival 2014 MAVERICK AWARD WINNERS".
  10. ^ "Red Lines". Archived from the original on 2014-10-02. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
  11. ^ "Television, Internet & Video Association of DC - 2014 Awards".
  12. ^ "6th Annual Award Winners - Pixie Awards". www.pixieawards.com. Archived from the original on 2015-01-01.
  13. ^ "Tiburon International Film Festival".
  14. ^ "Humanitarian Award 2015 Winners".
  15. ^ "Winners January 2015".
  16. ^ "2014 Humanitarian Award Winners |".
  17. ^ "Le 6 e Ramdam festival : 18.764 festivaliers !". 28 January 2016.
  18. ^ "Red Lines UK Premiere + Q&A". london.lecool.com. Le Cool. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  19. ^ Chen, Shanshan. "'We were like guerrilla filmmakers' - U.S. film maker on Syria". Reuters. Reuters. Retrieved 24 September 2014.[dead link]