ARTS / FILM
Ovation, tears for James Foley film at Sundance festival
Published: Jan 24, 2016 05:58 PM Updated: Jan 24, 2016 07:21 PM
A documentary about James Foley, the US journalist slain by the Islamic State group, premiered to a standing ovation on Saturday at the Sundance Film Festival.

Directed by Brian Oakes, a childhood friend, Jim: The James Foley Story chronicles the life of the journalist through interviews with his family, friends and fellow reporters who had worked or were held captive with him in Syria.

Foley's parents, three brothers and sister attended the premiere along with reporters who appear in the film and gave never-before-heard details of Foley's time in captivity.

The documentary uses childhood photos, videos of Christmas gatherings and family reunions, as well as Foley's own work to offer an intimate portrait of a restless spirit keen on making a difference and drawn to covering conflict.

"I felt a responsibility to Jim to take that on and I wanted to make sure that people knew who he was," Oakes said. "And I wanted the film to carry on the story that Jim was telling.

"The film is two parts: what I knew of Jim and what I didn't know about Jim."

The 40-year-old freelance journalist, who reported for GlobalPost, Agence France-Presse and other outlets, was captured in Syria in 2012 and beheaded in August 2014.

Video of his gruesome execution triggered global outrage and introduced much of the world to the Islamic State jihadist group.

Foley's parents said they were proud of the film and the way it portrayed their son.

"One of the things that's there is Jimmy's joy, his joy of life, his joy of his work, his goodness and friendship to his fellow man," his father, John Foley, said. "It's a bittersweet situation - there is a sadness and also pride."

AFP