In the wake of 9/11, extreme measures were taken to protect Americans both at home and abroad. One of these was the opening of Guantanamo Bay, where various Muslim detainees were sent beginning in early 2002 following the terrorist attacks. In the documentary I Am Gitmo, filmmaker Philippe Diaz brings us the story of one of these inmates to tell a broader tale about the entire prison system as well as the foreign policy that inspired it.
Countless films have tackled this issue, most recently 2021’s The Mauritanian. Diaz’s story centers on Gamel (Sammy Sheik), an Egyptian who fought against the Soviets and remained in Afghanistan to start a family. His former ties to the mujahideen ultimately ruin him. A neighbor, incentivized by the American dollar, reports Gamel to US authorities as a terrorist. (This is made cartoonish by the accusation of him being “the right arm of Osama bin Laden” which is never investigated or substantiated).
Gamel is then sent to Guantánamo, and it is his plight that drives most of the story. We also meet John Anderson (Eric Pierpoint), who comes out of retirement and becomes Gamel’s interrogator. Anderson treats Gamel with basic humility (like giving him a cell with a toilet), yet it is Gamel himself who carries the majority of the film.
Sheik shines as Gamel, who endures a litany of punishment throughout. He is waterboarded. He is subjected to loud music. He isn’t allowed to sleep. He bends but does not break. Sheik is the film’s focal point and MVP. Pierpoint also holds his own. The film would almost work better as a play with just these two characters, as others involved are not as convincing. What the film does well is dig deeper into questions on how Gamel’s situation even came to be.
The film is low-budget, yet works as an examination of humanity (and country) at its lowest point. It would work well in a film series on American foreign policy. It would also work well for students majoring in political science or modern history. It would also work well for advanced psychology students, primarily those interested in torture and the human response.
This is an extraordinary film. This is a necessary film." - Fionnuala Ni Aolain, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights
How can I Am Gitmo be integrated into public libraries’ collection development?
Public libraries should include I Am Gitmo as part of their collection to support programming on topics such as post-9/11 history, human rights, and American foreign policy. The film’s focus on Guantanamo Bay and its critique of extreme measures in the name of national security make it an essential resource for patrons interested in understanding the complexities of modern geopolitics, the ethics of counterterrorism, and the psychological impact of torture. It would pair well with related books and documentaries on these subjects.
What college courses and majors could benefit from using I Am Gitmo?
- Political Science: Courses on American foreign policy, post-9/11 political issues, and international relations would find this documentary valuable for exploring ethical and political dilemmas.
- Modern History: It offers insight into the post-9/11 era, including the broader consequences of U.S. military actions.
- Psychology: Advanced courses studying the psychological impact of torture and interrogative methods would benefit from analyzing the human aspects depicted in the film.
- Film Studies: The film could be studied for its low-budget approach to telling a compelling and human-centric story.
- Law: Classes on human rights law and the ethics of detention practices could use the film as a case study.
What are the Public Performance Rights (PPR) considerations for screening I Am Gitmo?
To screen I Am Gitmo in public settings, institutions must secure Public Performance Rights (PPR). Libraries, colleges, and community centers could purchase the educational license (offered at $195 DSL) to legally host screenings for their audiences. This ensures compliance with copyright laws and supports the filmmakers. The pricing is as follows: $19.95 SRP single DVD; $195 Educational DSL
How could I Am Gitmo enhance special events on college campuses?
The film would be a powerful addition to campus events such as:
- Human Rights Awareness Week: The film’s themes would provoke meaningful discussions on global ethics and detainee rights.
- Veterans Day Programs: Exploring the intersection of military service and foreign policy consequences.
- Guest Lectures or Panels: Featuring experts on international law, human rights, or post-9/11 geopolitics, paired with the film to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the topics.
Why is I Am Gitmo a strong candidate for movie licensing?
The film’s examination of critical post-9/11 issues and its focus on the humanity within political and ethical crises make it a highly relevant teaching tool. Its appeal to diverse audiences—political science students, human rights activists, psychologists, and historians—makes it an excellent candidate for licensing. Licensing would enable broader access for educational and community engagement purposes.
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Director's Bio
Philippe Diaz is known for directing documentaries “The End of Poverty?” (Invited to over 41 film festivals including official selection at Cannes Critics’ Week), “The Empire In Africa,” (official selection at Cannes Critics’ Week, Best Documentary awards at SlamDance, African Film Festival Montreal and Hollywood Film Festival) and the narrative feature “Now & Later.” He has produced over 25 films and was awarded the Louis Delluc, France’s top award, in 1986 for “Mauvais Sang'' which was nominated for 3 Césars. In 2004, he created Cinema Libre Studio, to provide an alternative structure for intelligent, indie films to get developed, financed, produced and distributed. Philippe Diaz is known for directing documentaries “The End of Poverty?” (Invited to over 41 film festivals including official selection at Cannes Critics’ Week), “The Empire In Africa,” (official selection at Cannes Critics’ Week, Best Documentary awards at SlamDance, African Film Festival Montreal and Hollywood Film Festival) and the narrative feature “Now & Later.” He wrote, directed and edited, "I Am Gitmo," starring Sammy Sheikh, Eric Pierpoint and Paul Kampf. The film was an official selection of the Marbella International Film Festival where it was nominate for Best Film, Best Actor and Best Director; Sammy Sheik was awarded Best Actor.
Director's Statement
After the events of 9/11, the Bush administration needed to find the men responsible for attacks or who had any ties to terrorism. Donald Rumsfeld, then Secretary of Defense, had the idea to print millions of leaflets and drop them all over Afghanistan. These leaflets essentially said: "Brings us a terrorist and you'll receive a lot of money." And a lot of money meant from $1,000 to $50,000 which was a fortune in Afghanistan at the time. So people started turning on each other; such as their neighbor who owned neighboring land or the taxi driver who had a car they wanted; their political opponents; etc. These men were detained by local police then brought to the CIA. The main issue here is that the CIA never checked on the culpability of these men but instead sent them immediately into interrogation with questions such as "Where is Bin Laden?" or "How did you get involved with Al Qaeda?" In most scenarios, these detainees had never heard of these terrorist leaders. However, if they could not answer they were sent to CIA secret sites, also called "Black Sites," were they were submitted to torture. Those detainees that the CIA believed to have information that they refused to reveal were sent to the prison in Guantanamo Bay Cuba to be tortured until they revealed such information. In the meantime, Donald Rumsfeld and several military "experts" --including General Geoffrey Miller who will command Guantanamo --devised new "enhanced interrogations techniques" that could "lead to permanent injuries or even death." 775 detainees were brought to Guantanamo. Most of them have been released without charge. 6 died while in detention. The oldest prisoner was 89 years old and the youngest was 13. 86% of these prisoners were sold to American troops in responses to a bounty offer. To this day 30 detainees remains in Guantanamo.
Q: Are there still men imprisoned at Guantanamo?
A: Yes, as of November 2024, 30 detainees are still help without specific charges (Source: New York Times)
Awards
Marbella Film Festival - Best Actor - Sammy Sheik
Festival and Special Screenings
Official Selection- Amnesty International acdh 2025 (France, March 2025) ; US Theatrical Release - New York (Quad) & Los Angeles