We showcase some works from Forensic Architecture, followed by the screening of “Truth Detectives” with the director, Anja Reiss. (+)
This year DIG hosts three works from Forensic Architecture, the Turner Prize nominated British collective that undertake historical and theoretical examinations of the history and present status of forensic practices in articulating notions of public truth.
We present the work of Forensic Architecture and screen “Truth Detectives”, a movie by Anja Reiss.
Truth Detectives. All around the world activists, journalists and lawyers collect evidence of human rights violations – with the help of victims. Using mobile devices to film and photograph their experiences, they become digital witnesses. Amateur videos of bombs exploding, people being abused or even shot dead are distributed almost in real time via social media. Digital investigators use various forensic methods, from internet tracking to DNA analysis, to analyse and verify this deluge of images, supporting them with other evidence and scientific expertise. These criminological investigations have only one purpose: to bring to justice those who violate human rights. Anja Reiss met investigative teams who use these cutting-edge technologies to document their research into the war in Ukraine, the destruction of Mali’s cultural heritage, the search for mass graves in Colombia and the ‘Black Friday’ bomb attacks in Gaza. The film documents the entire investigative procedure, from training and visiting the scene of the crime, securing and analysing forensic evidence, to presenting their evidence in court.
Anja Reiss is a freelance director and TV journalist, working for production companies, TV broadcasters and museums since 2012. She completed Latin America studies in Cologne, Madrid and Mexico City, and during her studies she worked as a freelance journalist for newspapers, as well as for a local radio station. After several internships at film production companies and TV-editorial departments in Pune, Berlin and Munich, she specialized in film directing of education and science film at the Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg. Her student documentaries have been screened and awarded in several international festivals. For the animation project The Lost Devonian she got a Karl Steinbuch Scholarship in 2011.