INFLUENCE charts the recent advancements in weaponized communication by investigating the rise and fall of the world’s most notorious public relations and reputation management firm: the British multinational Bell Pottinger.
SUNDANCE
2020
90 minutes
Richard Poplak is an award-winning author, journalist, and filmmaker. He has become one of the most widely read and controversial political journalists in South Africa, editing at large for the Daily Maverick. Poplak has reported from over 30 developing countries for news outlets across the world. He was part of a team that won the prestigious Global Shining Light award for investigative journalism.
Diana Neille is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker from Johannesburg, South Africa. A 2011 alumna of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, Diana has subsequently co-founded two media startups with the intention of fostering long-form investigative storytelling and documentary filmmaking at a time when journalism is facing unprecedented challenges globally.
A FILM BY RICHARD POPLAK, DIANA NEILLE
PRODUCERS BOB MOORE, NEIL BRANDT
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS MILA AUNG-THWIN, DANIEL CROSS, THANDI DAVIS
EDITED BY RYAN MULLINS
CINEMATOGRAPHY BY GLAUCO BERMUDEZ, MARK Ó FEARGHAIL
SOUND DESIGNER BENOIT DĀME
LOCATION SOUND DANIEL HEWETT, PABLO VILLEGAS
LINE PRODUCER LAUREN CLIFFORD-HOLMES, VALERIE SHAMASH
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER KATIE McKAY
ARCHIVAL PRODUCER EDMUND DUFF
JOHN SLOSS at CINETIC
BOB MOORE at EYESTEELFILM
CAMILLE JACQUES at EYESTEELFILM
RJ MILLARD at OBSCURED PICTURES
World Premiere at SUNDANCE January 2020