Filmmaker Eugene Jarecki did not plan to premiere his new documentary, “The Six Billion Dollar Man,” at Cannes. The original plan was to debut the film at Sundance earlier this year. The documentary tells the story of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, whose recent legal deal seemed like the perfect moment to release the film.
Last June, Assange reached a deal with the U.S. government. He pled guilty to publishing classified military information. The agreement allowed him to avoid extradition and return to Australia. After spending five years in a British prison and seven years inside the Ecuadorean embassy in London, his return home looked like a natural ending for Jarecki’s film.
However, as Jarecki kept working on the project, he realized the story was evolving. He needed more time to document Assange’s return home. This unexpected change forced him to withdraw from Sundance.
“The whole center of gravity shifted,” Jarecki explained. “It wasn’t going to be ready, so I had to do the unthinkable, which is to call Sundance and tell them with incredible regret I couldn’t do it.”
Despite the setback, Jarecki believes that premiering in France offers a powerful advantage. “It hadn’t dawned on me—it would have meant premiering the film in a country where Julian Assange is not allowed to be, and that seemed ethically compromising,” he said.
“The Six Billion Dollar Man” offers a sympathetic look at Assange’s life and work. The film explores his role in publishing U.S. diplomatic cables and classified footage from Afghanistan, which exposed secret actions by the American government and its allies. Assange remains a divisive figure. His critics say he acted recklessly and put lives at risk. His supporters argue that he fought to reveal the truth and challenge the powerful.
The documentary traces Assange’s journey from the early days of WikiLeaks through years of legal battles. Cannes audiences will get the chance to see the film on May 21, when it premieres with Assange himself expected to attend.
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