AFIDOCS Presents Natalie Avital's THE THREE HIKERS

AFI Documentary Festival presents the World Premiere of THE THREE HIKERS, a film by Natalie Avital.

Framed by insurmountable geopolitical dynamics that continue to exist between Iran and the US, Natalie Avital's directorial debut tells the deeply personal campaign story of the families of three Americans--Sarah Shourd, Shane Bauer, and Joshua Fattal -- who were captured in July of 2009 and held in Iran's notorious Evin prison for more than two years on espionage charges. Exclusive, behind-the-scenes footage paints an intimate portrait of a dynamic cross-section of American culture from coast to coast, as family members engage in the battle of their lives to free their loved ones and bring them home.

THE THREE HIKERS also highlights Sarah, Shane and Josh, their lives and work before the capture, their united passion for social justice and human rights and the individual historical context that ultimately drew each of them to the Middle East. Once detained, the film weaves back and forth between life on both sides of Evin's walls, chronicling key moments of Sarah, Shane and Josh's prison experience.

Interviewees include Reza Aslan, Noam Chomsky, Mohammed Ali's wife, Lonnie Ali, political expert Gary Sick and Faraz Sanei from Human Rights Watch. All weigh in with comprehensive perspectives that make a firm statement advocating for Sarah, Shane and Josh's freedom while illuminating reasons behind their prolonged detention. While the crisis emerged as international news story, The Three Hikers shares a profoundly intimate perspective of life for the families behind the media flashes, ripe with the turmoil, fatigue and unyielding tenacity of each uncertain day towards the prayer of Sarah, Shane and Josh's release.

USA - 2015 - 96 Minutes