Netflix Acquires ‘State Of Silence,’ Documentary That Exposes Shocking Threat To Mexico’s Bravest Journalists, Executive Produced By Diego Luna

deadline.com:

EXCLUSIVE: Netflix has acquired U.S. and Latin American rights to State of Silence (Estado de Silencio), Santiago Maza’s documentary on the perilous threat facing investigative journalists in Mexico.

Actor-activist Diego Luna executive produced the film which made its world premiere at Tribeca Festival in June, followed by an international premiere at Sheffield DocFest in the U.K.

La Corriente del Golfo, the production company founded by Luna and Gael García Bernal, produced the documentary. “State of Silence traces the harrowing journeys of four courageous journalists as they navigate treacherous terrain in their unwavering pursuit of truth and authenticity,” notes a synopsis of the film. “Through this deeply personal exploration, the narrative urgently underscores the endangered state of press freedom in Mexico… State of Silence is a film that offers an intimate portrayal of the dire situation in Mexico, transcending borders to become a representation of a global issue that requires urgent attention.” Since 2000, 167 journalists have been killed in Mexico as a presumptive result of their work, according to Article 19, an independent and nonpartisan group that advocates for freedom of expression.

Another 32 journalists have gone missing. “These incidents are embedded in a context of political violence in which criminal and state actors are constantly vying for influence,” maintains the Global Initiative Against Transnational Crime, an NGO based in Geneva. “The dominant narrative, which places the blame on cartels, conveniently absolves the state of its significant role in jeopardizing journalists’ safety.” The film explores the constant risk to any reporter who attempts to document corruption or wrongdoing, a