Confessions of an Innocent Man

20071 h 29 min 27 secFilm: Documentary

Direction: David Paperny

Production: Terence McKeownDavid PapernyCal ShumiatcherTrevor HodgsonCatherine TaitTracey Friesen (National Film Board of Canada)Rina Fraticelli

Produced by Paperny Films in co-production with the National Film Board of Canada, in association with CTV Television, with the assistance of the Province of British Columbia Film Incentive BC and with the assistance of the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit.

Confessions of an Innocent Man, directed by Academy Award®-nominated David Paperny, is a raw exposé that examines William Sampson's harrowing experience while imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for a crime he did not commit.

Sampson, who was working as a business consultant in Saudi Arabia at the time of his sudden arrest, belonged to a community of western ex-pats who worked hard and played hard. He, along with several other men, was charged with the terrorist bombing and murder of a fellow western ex-pat in December of 2000. With no evidence of his guilt, and despite pleading his innocence, Sampson was repeatedly tortured and received no counsel or visitation by his government until after his captors got what they wanted: a confession.

Bill Sampson's shocking forced admission was broadcast around the world. He was then sentenced to death by public beheading but the cycle of physical and psychological violence would continue. Over time, Sampson's prison behaviour grew increasingly bizarre. Rejecting various Canadian government envoys, and pushing away his father, he set out to make himself as offensive as possible to his captors. Sampson refused to be clothed. He destroyed his cell at every opportunity, and eventually smeared himself and the walls of his prison cell with his own excrement. It was these acts of defiance - despite the brutality and solitary confinement - that Sampson believes preserved his sanity.

Finally freed after a total of 31 months, one burning question remains unanswered: Where was the Canadian government, and why wasn't more done to help? Today Sampson continues to fight to clear his name and hold the Saudi government accountable for his inhumane and illegal treatment.

Captured in high definition, Confessions of an Innocent Man is an unforgettable testament to one man's struggle to survive injustice, brutality, and the geo-politics that condone them.

Subject categories


  • Law and Crime > CrimesHuman RightsMurderPrisons and Prisoners
  • Politics and Government - Canada > International Relations
  • Politics and Government > Middle East and the Arab WorldPolitical Repression

Credits


director
David Paperny
narrator
Martin Sheen
narration writer
Ian Gill
David Paperny
producer
Terence McKeown
David Paperny
Tracey Friesen
executive producer
Cal Shumiatcher
Trevor Hodgson
Catherine Tait
Rina Fraticelli
executive in charge of production
Louise Clark
Bob Culbert
editor
Lara Mazur
director of photography
Todd Elyzen
original music composer
Ben Mink
Schaun Tozer
music producer
Ben Mink
Schaun Tozer
production designer
David Fischer
associate producer
Lisa Nault
archival research
Paula Sawadsky
clearances
Paula Sawadsky
sound design
Miguel Nunes
sound supervision
Miguel Nunes
post-production supervisor
John Christie
online editor
Tyler Hill
research
Laurie Few
graphic effects
Ian Kirby
Caleb Bouchard
still photography
Rosamond Norbury
colourist
Claudio Sepulveda
first assistant editor
Tyler J. Smart
assistant editor
Tuyet Le
production manager
Lisa Nault
sound recordist
Patrick Brereton
Brent Calkin
field producer
Genny Masterman
additional camera
Mike Adams
Larry Carey
Phil Geyelin
Doug Pike
grip
Terry Kim
John Sillitoe
additional sound
André Boisvert
Bruce Cameron
Mark Wilson
makeup
Nicole Harvey
John L. Healy
hair
Nicole Harvey
John L. Healy
re-recording mixer
Miguel Nunes
dialogue editor
Gina Mueller
ambiance editor
Jeff Shannon
audio engineer
Brett Rothfield
production accountant
Denny McArthur
accounting assistant
Carleen Jurincic
Jamie Falconer
corporate finance
Cecile Peyret
business affairs
Trevor Hodgson
Emma Blake
director of development
Aynsley Vogel
development coordinator
Tammy Lawrence
legal services
Eric Shipman
insurance
Jones Brown
transcriber
Trace Sitter
Maureen Ritchie
production assistant
Mike Dinsmore
Trisha Mitrocsak
Rachel Warick
Sasha Wade
Jeremy Wilcox
Emma Avery
intern
Nimisha Mukerji
casting director
Dorothy Szymanska
actor
Brent Stait
assistant director
Jeff Mosuk
set decorator
Linda Vipond
stunt coordinator
Phil Chiu
additional actor
Zeus Ghadban
Babek Haleky
Ahmad Sharmrou
Tony Ali
Jasbir Singh
storyboard artist
Vern Giammartino
1st camera assistant
Simon Jori
2nd camera assistant
Lewis Bennett
key grip
Steve Larsen
best boy grip
Sandy MacDonald
key gaffer
Donnie Allen
best boy electric
Nathan Allen
makeup assistant
Danielle Fowler
hair assistant
Danielle Fowler
set dresser
Ross Wahl
props master
Nick Dibley
props assistant
Jake Miller
costume designer
Fiona Boyle
script supervisor
Laura Murdoch
Lisa Rerrie
set construction
Camel Productions
catering
Shooting Star
craft service
Renata Lisicka

Awards


  • Best Biography Documentary ProgramGemini Awards