Bard College at Simon’s Rock will host a screening of the award-winning documentary (T)ERROR followed by a conversation with the film’s director David Felix Sutcliffe. The event will be held on Friday, February 19, at 7 p.m. in the Daniel Arts Center. It’s free and open to the public. Registration is required.
(T)ERROR follows Saeed Torres, a career counterterrorism informant, as he takes on his (presumably) last job for the FBI. Torres invites the filmmakers to follow his covert efforts to befriend a suspected jihadist, without informing his superiors. (T)ERROR explores just how far we’ll go to prevent terror in this country and exactly what liberties we sacrifice to get there. Mr. Sutcliffe and his co-director, acclaimed photojournalist Lyric R. Cabral, are the first filmmakers in documented history to have access to an active FBI informant in a domestic counterterrorism investigation.
The film debuted at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival where it won a Special Jury Prize, as well as the Grand Jury Prize at the 2015 Full Frame Film Festival. It also received a national theatrical release in 2015, receiving accolades from the press: RogerEbert.com said, “(T)ERROR is an interesting character study of a man with a fascinating story to tell…That story alone would have been an interesting one, but (T)ERROR takes a turn in the second act that deepens the entire piece…"; and Newsweek’s Aleksandr Gorbachev said, “(T)ERROR is something in between Burn After Reading and a Dostoevsky novel, except everything happens for real.”
Mr. Sutcliffe is the first of several alumni who will be invited back to campus for Uncommon Journeys, a new speaker series that celebrates the unique paths and exceptional successes of Simon’s Rock alumni. Alums engage with the community through presentations and discussions that highlight their distinctive contributions in their chosen fields. Director of Institutional Advancement Rich Montone said, “We’re thrilled to bring David back to campus. With all its surprising twists, (T)ERROR is such a unique documentary. After they see the film, the audience will be even more excited to have an opportunity to speak with David.”
“Our alumni are doing extraordinary things in the world,” said Dr. Ian Bickford, newly appointed provost and Simon’s Rock alum. “As our 50th anniversary approaches, we thought it was an auspicious time to both celebrate their accomplishments and share their talents with the extended Simon’s Rock community,” Dr. Bickford continued. The Uncommon Journeys program—generously supported by Dr. Scott Shenker and Mary Ruth Quinn—is a vehicle to achieve those goals.
ABOUT DAVID FELIX SUTCLIFFE
A Sundance award-winning filmmaker and cinematographer, Mr. Sutcliffe’s work has
screened in festivals throughout North America—including Tribeca, Full Frame, Hot
Docs, and of course, Sundance. In 2013, he was included in Filmmaker Magazine’s annual list of “25 New Faces of Independent Film.” He was selected as a fellow for
the Sundance Institute’s Edit and Story Lab, as well as their Creative Producing Lab,
in 2014. The BBC, NEA, IDA, ITVS, Tribeca Film Institute, Bertha BRITDOC Journalism
Fund, and Sundance Institute—have all funded his work. PBS broadcasted his first film, Adama, in 2011.