First to Stand

The Cases and Causes of Irwin Cotler

Friday, August 05, 2022

First to Stand follows Irwin Cotler and his team of young activists at the Raoul Wallenberg Centre as they take on the cases and cause of political prisoners and human rights activists battling against the world’s most repressive regimes.

Cotler began fighting for freedom and justice in law school with the landmark case of Russian refusnik Natan Sharansky, for whom he devised his “mobilization of shame” against the human rights violator — essentially, a PR blitz against a superpower to convince them that holding a political prisoner is bad for their image. The strategy led to Gorbachev releasing Sharansky in 1986.

Tyrants aren’t amused by someone embarrassing their regime in front of the rest of the world — especially Vladimir Putin. Like others who crossed Putin’s path, Cotler was poisoned in Moscow. But the attempt on his life hasn’t dampened his commitment. He is today, one of the world’s most effective activist in the protection of human rights.

First to Stand revolves around the backstory in Russia up to the current human right cases and causes led by Cotler. It opens in the streets of Moscow with protesters chanting to bring Putin down. It is a film of high stakes, emotion and drama, which takes us from the streets to the strategy sessions and corridors of power, as Cotler meets with the heads of state arguing passionately for his client’s release. With unprecedented access, we will follow their families and supporters, including:

Raif Badawi, the Saudi blogger who was sentenced to ten years and a thousand lashes for “insulting Islam” by advocating freedom of speech on his blog. His wife Ensaf is working tirelessly on his behalf.

Bill Browder, Putin’s #1 enemy — the first to speak out against Putin and the creator of the Magnitsky Act, the basis of the current sanctions against Russia, He will be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize this year.

Amal Clooney, international human rights barrister, who is co-heading an international panel to protect media freedom.

Shaparak Shajarizadeh, named one of the most influential women in the world by the BBC for her protests and arrests fighting compulsory hijab in Iran.

Natan Sharansky, Russian refusnik, who is still fighting for human rights in Israel and around the world.

Masih Alinejad, journalist, who the Iranian government recently tried to kidnap in an assassination attempt interceded by the FBI.

We also cover Irwin Cotler’s work with the international team for Nelson Mandela and in remembrance of the genocide in Rwanda.

Although Raif Badawi was released from prison in March 2022, The Saudi regime has instituted a ten-year travel ban, so he cannot leave the country. Irwin and his team have been working behind the scenes to have the ban rescinded. We hope to soon add an epilogue showing Raif’s reunion with his wife Ensaf and their children.

First to Stand is about committed human rights activists who know if they stand up, it won’t be long before others are standing with them.

Film information

Genre	Documentary
Released	2022
Duration	81 min./59 min.
Version française	Premier debout
Production	DLI Productions
Produced by	Abbey Jack Neidik, Irene Lilienheim Angelico
Directed by	Irene Lilienheim Angelico, Abbey Jack Neidik
Director of photography	Abbey Jack Neidik
Edited by	Howard Goldberg, Martin Nault, Irene Lilienheim Angelico, Abbey Jack Neidik
Sound by	Toben Neidik

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Tags: Amal Clooney, Human Rights, Iran Protests, Irwin Cotler, Magnitsky Act, Putin is a War Criminal, Raif Badawi, Shaparak Shajarizadeh

Movie clips

We spend a lot of energy dealing with the villains, but hardly any time celebrating the heroes. Irwin Cotler is one of the greatest heroes of our time. He’s taken on the most intractable dictators and saved the most unjustly imprisoned hostages. I hope everyone will watch First to Stand and become familiar his inspiring commitment to justice.”

— Bill Browder

Opening Human Rights Day, December 10, 2022
Extended to December 22

“Saturday’s launch of Irene Angelico and Abbey Neidik’s new documentary, First to Stand: The Cases and Causes of Irwin Cotler at the Cinéma du Musée was a beautifully orchestrated and emotionally charged event. Playing to an enthusiastic full house, the captivating, fast-paced movie tracks former Justice Minister Cotler’s battles in defence of people who have been victimized for fighting against repressive regimes. The stories captured in the doc were amplified by the presence of three of the featured participants: Irwin Cotler, human rights champion; Shaparak Shajarizadeh, an Iranian woman tortured and sentenced for protests that spearheaded the current movement for women’s rights, and Ensaf Haidar the wife and voice of Saudi blogger Raif Badawi who was sentenced to ten years in prison and 1000 lashes for advocating freedom of speech. The film, the filmmakers, the responses by Cotler and these courageous women, who all handled questions with modest brilliance, drew several standing ovations.”
— Maurie Alioff, film journalist/critic

“Congratulations on the film’s triumphant reception last night! The amazing thing is how you managed to pay tribute to a man who spends much of his day with files and conferences and on the phone, made it feel like a political thriller! The pace never let down.”
— Sam Wendel, former director Telefilm, Los Angeles

”We spend a lot of energy dealing with the villains of the world, but hardly any time celebrating the heroes. Irwin Cotler is one of the greatest heroes of our time. He’s taken on some of the most intractable dictators and saved some of the most unjustly imprisoned hostages. I hope that everyone will watch First to Stand and become familiar with his inspiring commitment to justice.”
— Bill Browder, financier, political activist and creator of Magnitsky Sanctions

“Captivating new documentary! First to Stand: The Cases and Causes of Irwin Cotler is the latest from the dynamic Montreal spousal filmmaking team of Irene Angelico and Abbey Neidik.”
— Bill Brownstein, The Montreal Gazette

“What a treasure we have in Irwin Cotler. A great film. Absolutely captivating!”
— Duke Eatmon, CBC

“An extraordinary new documentary entitled First to Stand: the Cases and Causes of Irwin Cotler, will be released in Montreal at Cinéma du Musée.”
— Mike Cohen, Cohen in the City

“It’s not a biography — the film instead travels the four-decade career representing the likes of the late Nelson Mandela, Natan Sharansky, Raif Badawi a Saudi blogger sentenced to a thousand lashes and ten years in prison. Audiences will catch a glimpse of what it’s like travelling the world to stand up to oppressive regimes as Cotler collaborates with allies including acclaimed human rights lawyer Amal Clooney.”
— Ellin Bessner, The Canadian Jewish News

”…thrilled there was such a good reception to this great work.”
— Amal Clooney, human rights Barrister

“What an evening! What a tribute to Irwin! What a tribute to you. What a fantastic reception! Standing ovations! You did a fantastic job.”
— Beverly Shaffer, Academy Award winner

“You have gone and done it again! What a wonderful, brilliant film!… it is so well illustrated in the stories of the incredibly courageous individuals who risked everything to stand up for their rights. So inspiring. And for change to happen, how essential it is for others to support these brave individuals, which of course, is what Cotler does so well and why his Institute matters.

The film has such clarity and is beautifully structured! The main ideas were so well expressed both at the beginning and then the way they ripple throughout the cases. This film so brilliantly illuminates the stories of those who are paying the price of that freedom for the rest of us. All this to say that this is a really, really extraordinary, and important film. What more can I say? I just loved it! Bravo!”
— Terre Nash, Academy Award winner

“Lawyer Irwin Cotler travels the globe to defend political prisoners, journalists, and those threatened by genocide. One imagines his goals to be unattainable; yet, when we see that he gets results, we’re left speechless. An awe-inspiring portrait by the courageous documentary filmmakers Irene Angelico and Abbey Neidik.”
— Gyuri Unger, International Award-Winning Filmmaker

“A wonderful film on Irwin Cotler, a totally inspiring man!”
— Joyce Borenstein, Academy Award winner

“Congratulations on an important, engaging, and wonderful film! I hope it inspires many to learn and to act.”
— Alice Herscovitch. Gouvernement Relations, musée de l’Holocauste Montréal

“Excellent research and hard-to-get film clips, great shots of important meetings and moments in Irwin Cotler’s advocacy, all beautifully edited. I was captivated by Abbey and Irene’s latest doc. Well done!!!”
— Irwin Block, journalist

“Extraordinary film about an extraordinary man!”
— Fran Rishikof, former sales executive, Astral Media and Bell Media

“I saw the film last night. It is wonderful, painful, heartfelt. Just terrific.”
— Sandy Climan, owner, Bibliophile Bookstore

“Kudos to you for putting together this wonderful piece about our thus far, unsung hero, Irwin Cotler. It is a well-deserved tribute which could not have been easy to put together. It deserves to be seen and talked about.”
— Abigail Hirsch, film producer

“Incredible achievement!”
— Tamara Boness, Dawson College

“That was a fabulous film!”
— Susan Palmer, sociologist, Concordia University

DLI Productions

Documentary film production in Montreal

First to Stand