🎞️ «In Beijing’s Crosshairs»; «Myanmar Scam Factory»; «Shot Like Enemies: Inside Nepal’s Gen Z Uprising»

Screening of three finalist documentaries in the Investigative Medium category.

1. IN BEIJING’S CROSSHAIRS

PRODUCTION: Radio-Canada
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Canada
PRODUCTION COUTRY: Australia, Canada
DATE: 2025
LENGTH: 39′
DIRECTED BY: Benoît Giasson

On November 26, 2022, the body of Hua Yong was found on a small island off Canada’s west coast. Initially considered an accidental drowning, his death took on a darker meaning when it emerged that Hua Yong, a political dissident and outspoken opponent of the Chinese Communist Party, had been targeted by Chinese secret police. After being imprisoned for challenging the regime, he had sought refuge in Canada. Through the testimony of a former Chinese spy and unprecedented access to Hua Yong’s communications with his secret police handlers,this documentary retraces the events surrounding the case and uncovers the dark secrets of the Chinese police force.

2. MYANMAR SCAM FACTORY

PRODUCTION: TRT WORLD
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Turkey
PRODUCTION COUTRY: Japan, Myanmar, Netherlands, Pakistan, Thailand
DATE: 2026
LENGTH: 39′
DIRECTED BY: Mouhssine Ennaimi, Constantin Simon

An engaging investigation into the phenomenon of scam factories, the criminal system fueling online scams on a global scale. In a country devastated by civil war and political instability, criminal organizations exploit the chaos to run actual fraud centers, where victims are lured with false job promises and forced to scam people around the world under the threat of violence. A business that generates tens of billions of dollars every year. Through testimonies and evidence gathered on the ground, the documentary reconstructs the workings of this criminal machine and recounts the international battle to free the trafficking victims.

3. SHOT LIKE ENEMIES: INSIDE NEPAL’S GEN Z UPRISING

PRODUCTION: BBC World Service
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRODUCTION COUTRY: Nepal
DATE: 2026
LENGTH: 41′
DIRECTED BY: Subina Shrestha, Antoine Schirer

On September 8, 2025, tens of thousands of young “Gen Z” protesters took to the streets of Kathmandu to protest government corruption. By the end of the day, 19 protesters had been killed. The following day, protests erupted across Nepal, leading to the collapse of the government. Drawing on more than 4,000 videos filmed that day, alongside exclusive leaked documents and powerful testimonies, this investigation provides the most comprehensive account yet of one of the most dramatic events in Nepal’s recent history. The film had a major impact, dominating the national conversation and ultimately leading to the arrest of the former Prime Minister and Home Minister over their roles in the tragedy.