The importance of independent journalism can never be overstated. In Mexico, independent journalists who report on issues such as local corruption, water diversion away from farmers and cartel-related shootings face the dangers of violence, death and forced relocation from their country. Santiago Maza’s riveting, eye-opening State of Silence follows four such committed journalists — Jesús Medina, Juan de Dios García Davish, María de Jesús Peters and March Vizcarra — who recall their experiences and express their strong commitment to following leads despite the constant threat to themselves and their families. In a profession where they must continually balance their career with their personal safety, they serve as what Medina calls an “amplifier” for the people living in what they see as a “narco politics” state, where the line between the law and crime is blurred and the continuing threats to journalists have created zones of silence that should never be tolerated.––Brian Gordon

After the Premiere Screening: A conversation with Mexican journalists Marcos Vizcarra and Maria de Jesus Peters, director Santiago Maza and executive producers Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal.

Santiago Maza