Imagine spending years in prison without being charged with a crime or knowing exactly what you're accused of. A film about the human impact of the “War on Terror,” The Secret Trial 5 is a sobering examination of the Canadian government’s use of security certificates, a Kafkaesque tool that allows for indefinite detention without charges, based on evidence not revealed to the accused or their lawyers. Over the last decade, this rare and highly controversial device has been used to detain five men for nearly 30 years combined. To date, none has been charged with a crime or seen the evidence against them. Through the experience of the detainees and their families, the film raises poignant questions about the balance between security and liberty.
A true crowdfunding success story, The Secret Trial 5 was shot over four years on funds raised primarily through public contributions. Using their animated trailer, the filmmakers reached out to Canadians and raised nearly $50,000 through two campaigns before being selected as recipients of Telefilm Canada’s inaugural Micro-Budget Program.
While travelling back and forth for shoots in Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa, first time filmmakers Amar Wala and Noah Bingham stayed true to their grassroots, community-based approach to production by constantly sharing progress and staying connected with their supporters. Partnering with several human rights and legal organizations along the way, the team’s goal has always been to raise awareness and spur debate about security certificates at every stage of production.
Amar Wala
Amar is an emerging filmmaker based in Toronto, Canada. He was born in Bombay, India, and moved to Toronto with his family at the age of 11. He has a degree in Film Production from York University, and believes deeply in cinema’s ability to create awareness and facilitate change. His short film, The Good Son (2008), had its world premiere at The 4th Annual Dubai International Film Festival, and went on to screen at festivals around the world and win several awards in Canada. The Secret Trial 5 is Amar's first feature film.
Noah Bingham
Noah is an emerging filmmaker based in Toronto, Canada, with a passion for cinema that humanizes complex social issues. He was born in the United States and moved to the GTA with his family at the age of 5. He holds a degree in Film Production and International Development Studies from York University. Noah is also a Founding Board Member of Good Evidence, a non-profit organization that challenges harmful representations by showcasing inspiring models of community based action on social, economic and environmental issues.
Madeleine Cohen
Madeleine has worked on number of documentary and narrative projects as producer, researcher, and writer, including two independently produced shorts of her own. She holds an Honours BA in History and Contemporary Philosophy from the University of King’s College in Halifax and a MA in History from the University of Toronto. This is her first feature film.
Darby MacInnis
Darby’s narrative work as a film editor has been celebrated internationally at film festivals worldwide as well as in his native Toronto at the Toronto International Film Festival, Reel Asian International Film Festival and the Canadian Film Centre’s Worldwide Short Film Festival. Notable film credits include Banana Bruises (2007), Soap (2009) and Miklat (2013). In the documentary sphere, Darby developed his craft working under one of Canada’s finest documentary film director/editors, Michèle Hozer. It was during these years that Darby refined his philosophical approach to post-production while learning the meticulous inner workings of the entire post-production process, working on some of Canada’s most widely distributed and recognized documentary films, such as Triage (2008), the Glenn Gould biography The Genius Within (2009), The Team (2010), The West Wind (2011) and Fight Like Soldiers, Die Like Children (2013), all produced by the award-winning production company White Pine Pictures. Darby's favourite band is The Clash.
Julian Brown
Julian is the designer and entrepreneur behind the motion design studio ON THE CHASE! In its first five years, OTC! has won international awards and collaborated with diverse clients ranging from award-winning filmmaker Sarah Polley (Stories We Tell) to high-profile non-profit MaRS Centre. Julian has been profiled in design industry magazines Applied Arts and Design Edge as a rising young talent, and had work published in Canada, the UK and Japan. He serves on the board of the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD) and is a graduate of the York/Sheridan Design Degree program.
Jeff Morrow
Jeff Morrow started his musical career as a jazz trombonist. Now an accomplished composer for film and television, his work can be heard on more than thirty television shows for CBS, CTV, PBS, TVO, MTV and Teletoon, and in many films including, most recently, Cold Feet directed by Daniel D’ Alimonte and Anatomy of Assistance directed by Cory Bowles, which premiered at TIFF. His work also includes numerous advertising campaigns, viral videos and concert pieces. Jeff was selected as one of two composers in residence in the inaugural year of the Canadian Film Centre Slaight Music Lab, headed by Oscar-winning composer Mychael Danna.
Want to watch us make the film? Take a look at our production photos and videos.
Our supporters are who made this film possible! Here are just of a few of generous people who gave us their support, and without which we would have had no chance in getting this project complete.
Thanks so much for educating the public in this way. This is such an important issue and I'm impressed that you are taking it on. Congrats --- Thanks for creating a film that will let others know how fragile our democracy really is.
This is such important work. We must make this film happen! Thank you so much filmmakers & everyone involved.
