Praise for Caught in the Crossfire

"Everybody in America needs to see this movie" – Cindy Sheehan, mother of Casey Sheehan and world renowned peace activist

"Caught in the Crossfire is, to date, one of the most important films made about the occupation of Iraq, period. It is a rare and shattering glimpse into what the 'mainstream media' refuses to show – the true devastation of war imposed upon those who always suffer the most – the women and children. I cannot recommend it more highly."
– Dahr Jamail, Independent Journalist and Author

"Courage is the best word to describe Mark Manning's
work on 'Caught in the Crossfire'. Manning reminds
us that Freedom begins with the truth."
– Marc Ash, Founder and Executive Director, TruthOut.org

"Manning shows footage that the American networks
are too obsequious to show or too lacking in personal
courage to pursue." – BUZZFLASH.com

About the Film

(Running Time: 27 minutes - Includes interviews with the filmmakers)

In November 2004, Fallujah, Iraq was a major battle ground in the Iraq war. The city of Fallujah has now been declared “pacified” and the battle of Fallujah has been declared a victory by the American administration. With interviews with the filmmakers, Caught in the Crossfire is an eyewitness account from the only independent journalists to live with the people of Fallujah.

Independent filmmakers Mark Manning and Rana Al Aiouby traveled to Fallujah, un-embedded, to live with the refugees and experience life from their point of view, returning with them to their destroyed city after the siege. They experienced the checkpoints, witnessed the devastation of thousands of homes, shops and mosques, and documented the siege as recounted by those who survived inside the city during the battles. The people of Fallujah asked them to tell their story to the world, and they are now fulfilling that request with the release of Caught in the Crossfire.

Shot from November 2004 to April 2005 inside the city of Fallujah, Caught in the Crossfire details the conditions experienced by civilians as they endured the violent clashes and consequences of the Iraq war and became refugees outside the eyes and care of the international community.

A joint production between Iraqi and American filmmakers with a budget of less than $7,000, Caught in the Crossfire was filmed entirely un-embedded, outside the protection or influence of the military or corporate media, in order to capture the unique and honest perspective of the civilians themselves. By detailing what is actually happening to civilians in combat zones, the film shows why many of the people in Iraq have lost faith in the stated American policy goals and why America has lost the “hearts and minds” of the Iraqi people.