‘The Confession’ to have its world premiere at Sheffield Doc/Fest this year

Commissioned by BBC Storyville and the BFI, The Confession is a gripping account of the rise of modern jihad, its descent into terror and the disastrous reaction of the West. In 2001, Moazzam Begg was abducted by the US military and under interrogation gave a forced confession, admitting to being an Al Qaeda terrorist. Begg was subsequently held and tortured in detention sites in Kandahar and Bagram. This documentary captures the entirety of Begg’s story in an in-depth interview, from his forced confession and testimony as a free man, to his experience as a British Muslim and living the War on Terror. The Confession explores the profound conundrum our society is currently grappling with; whether there is space for people with a voice like Begg, who condemn the West’s reaction to the Muslim world but also condemn extremist actions.

Beautifully filmed and interlaced with vivid archive, The Confession is a documentary of rare range and insight, which speaks profoundly to the identity crisis faced by young British Asians who feel stigmatised by association. The film offers a crucial reassessment of the questions surrounding multiculturalism.

Director Ashish Ghadiali commented:

“For me, the years of the War on Terror have been an era less of fear than of growing sadness. We find ourselves less sure of what is real and what is not, less sure of our multicultural reality, less sure of our common humanity. I needed to confront that. The story of Moazzam Begg, I believe, speaks to the heart of what we’ve lost”

With a production team of award-winning filmmakers that include: Producer James Rogan (BBC Storyville: Amnesty! When They Are All Free, The Trouble with Pirates, Blog Wars), and Executive Producer Roger Graef OBE (Great Ormond Street, Feltham Sings), The Confession will be distributed by leading sales agent Dogwoof and has received additional support from Creative England.

Producer James Rogan also commented on the significance of the film:

“Moazzam Begg’s account of living through the War on Terror is a unique perspective on one of the defining stories of our time. It’s challenging, thought-provoking and deeply tragic. It raises profound questions about the nature of British justice and the accountability of the security services, but also sheds light on how the concept of jihad was co-opted and corrupted to justify terror. Documentaries are at their best when they look behind the headlines to the lived experience behind them, and that is what we have tried to do with this film.”