A real-life international thriller, City of Ghosts exposes a new type of warfare: a battle over ideas, a fight for hearts and minds, a conflict over clicks and views. Captivating in its immediacy, it follows the journey of “Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently” — a handful of Syrian rebel activists who banded together after their homeland was taken over by ISIS in 2014. With astonishing, deeply personal access, this film embeds with brave citizen journalists as they face the realities of life undercover, on the run, and in exile, risking their lives to stand up against one of the world’s greatest evils.

REVIEWS

“Heineman may have made the definitive contemporary documentary about the tragedy of Syria, as well as an epoch-defining piece on modern media tactics.”
— The Guardian

“The heroism on display in City of Ghosts is unforgettable, and the film remains an ever-essential reminder of the high costs and vital necessity of journalism in this—or any—fight against evil.”
— Associated Press

“An urgent and heart-heavy account of Syrian resistance from the ground up.”
— The New York Times

“A profound study in bravery.”
— New York Post

“An extremely effective doc with such a personal core. It's a movie that establishes awe and compassion for people who are doing, and experiencing, certain things we can only imagine. Their unbelievable vigilance is given a complex portrait in Heineman's film.”
— RogerEbert.com