A Thousand Cuts

A Thousand Cuts is a 2020 Filipino-American documentary film about Maria Ressa, the founder of the online news site Rappler. Directed by Ramona Diaz, it explores the conflicts between the press and the Philippine government under President Rodrigo Duterte.
The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2020. It was released in the United States in a limited release and virtual cinemas on August 7, 2020, by PBS Distribution, and was followed by a broadcast on the program "Frontline" on January 8, 2021.
Plot.
The film follows the conflicts between the press and the Philippine government under president Rodrigo Duterte. It primarily follows Maria Ressa, the founder of the online news site Rappler, which has been subject to scrutiny by Duterte and his supporters, and writers for the website including Pia Ranada, Patricia Evangelista and Rambo Talabong. It also follows Mocha Uson, Samira Gutoc, and Bato dela Rosa as they campaign for seats in the Philippine senate.
Release.
The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2020. It was also set to screen at South by Southwest in March 2020, however, the festival was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also screened at AFI Docs on June 19, 2020. In June 2020, PBS Distribution and Frontline acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film, and briefly made the film available for a limited time on YouTube free for Philippine users. The film was released in the United States through virtual cinema on August 7, 2020, followed by broadcast on Frontline on January 8, 2021.
Reception.
"A Thousand Cuts" received positive reviews from film critics. It holds a 100% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 36 reviews, with a weighted average of 8.20/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "A sobering documentary and a stark warning, A Thousand Cuts underscores the importance of the press at a pivotal moment in world history." On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 81 out of 100, based on 8 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".