ISFiT presents: Double screening: The Power of Resistance: The Act of Killing (2012) and The Look of Silence (2014) with Q&A // Cinemateket

A film pass, granting access to all screenings and events at Studentersamfundet, is available for NOK 300. Please note that Cinemateket operates its own ticketing and pricing. To attend film screenings, you must register as a member of Trondheim Filmklubb through NFK via this link: https://www.filmklubbmedlem.no/registrer. Membership will be checked at the entrance. However, entry is not guaranteed, as some venues have limited capacity.

The Act of Killing & The Look of Silence – A Double Screening + Q&A with Director Joshua Oppenheimer
Monday, March 17
NEW PLACE: Cinemateket

Some films change the way we see the world. Others force us to question history itself. Joshua Oppenheimer’s groundbreaking documentaries, The Act of Killing (2012) and The Look of Silence (2014), do both.
This special double screening is an unmissable opportunity to experience two of the most powerful and controversial documentaries of our time, followed by an exclusive Q&A with director Joshua Oppenheimer—a rare chance to engage with the filmmaker behind these unforgettable works.
The Act of Killing (2012) – 17:00
What happens when mass murderers are invited to reenact their crimes in the style of their favorite Hollywood films?
The Act of Killing is unlike any documentary before it. It plunges us into the minds of former Indonesian death squad leaders, who proudly restage their acts of terror—playing themselves as gangsters, cowboys, and action heroes. But beneath their bravado lies something deeper: the ghosts of their own history.
This Academy Award-nominated film is as surreal as it is terrifying, offering a profound meditation on power, impunity, and the narratives that shape nations. Winner of over 70 international awards, it has been described as one of the most important documentaries of the 21st century.
The Look of Silence (2014) – 19:30
If The Act of Killing exposed the perpetrators, The Look of Silence gives voice to the survivors.
This companion piece follows an optometrist, Adi, who confronts the men responsible for murdering his brother during the 1965 Indonesian genocide. Through quiet but searing encounters, Adi forces them to reckon with their past—revealing the deep wounds of a society still haunted by violence.
Nominated for an Academy Award and winner of Venice Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize, The Look of Silence is a harrowing yet poetic exploration of trauma, memory, and resistance.
Q&A with Director Joshua Oppenheimer – 21:15
Following the screenings, join us for an in-depth conversation with Joshua Oppenheimer, one of the most influential documentarians of our time. His films have sparked worldwide debate, challenged authoritarian regimes, and redefined how we use cinema to confront history.
This is a unique opportunity to ask questions, gain behind-the-scenes insights, and explore the role of storytelling in exposing truth and injustice.
Entry is free for all festival film pass holders. Arrive early to secure a good seat!