Documentary All Static & Noise Screened in Berlin and Hamburg with initiative and support from Amnesty

All Static & Noise, a compelling documentary directed by David Novack that sheds light on China’s systematic persecution of the Uyghur people, was screened on June 15, 2025, at Movimento Kino in Berlin, and on June 17 at Abaton Kino in Hamburg. The events were organized by Amnesty International, further emphasizing the global human rights community’s concern for the ongoing crisis in East Turkistan.

The film documents the stories of Uyghur survivors who have endured arbitrary detention, torture, and separation from their families as part of China’s sweeping campaign in the East Turkistan (XUAR in China)—policies widely recognized as crimes against humanity, and by some, as genocide.

At the heart of the film is Jewher Ilham, daughter of imprisoned Uyghur scholar Ilham Tohti, whose personal journey—transformed from a young student seeking answers about her father’s fate into a determined advocate for her people—anchors the emotional core of the documentary.

Alongside her is Abduweli Ayup, a Uyghur linguist who was imprisoned and tortured in China for teaching the Uyghur language. Now living in exile, Ayup plays a vital role in the film by documenting the stories of other Uyghurs who fled China and by helping preserve Uyghur cultural identity through education.

The film also features a wide range of powerful firsthand testimonies from survivors of China’s internment camps—men and women who endured arbitrary detention, psychological and physical torture, and the painful disappearance of their loved ones. Filmed across seven countries, their voices come together to expose the magnitude of the repression and the collective trauma that continues to haunt the Uyghur diaspora.

Jewher Ilham, who was scheduled to attend both screenings and speak to the audience, was unable to travel from the United States due to her travel document-related issues. In her place, Enver Can, founding president of the Ilham Tohti Initiative, delivered the opening remarks in Berlin. He highlighted both Ilham Tohti’s ongoing imprisonment and the current dire situation facing the Uyghur people under Chinese rule.

Combining survivor testimonies, satellite imagery, animation, and rare footage, All Static & Noise exposes the inner workings of China’s vast network of internment camps. The film was years in the making and includes interviews with exiled Uyghurs in multiple countries, providing a powerful and multifaceted portrait of state repression.

Following the screenings, several audience members gathered for a symbolic “family photo” in front of the Ilham Tohti Initiative roll-up banner, holding signs that read “Freedom for Ilham Tohti.” The gesture reflected a strong sense of solidarity and an enduring call for justice and human rights.

The screenings in Berlin and Hamburg, organized by the Amnesty International, Germany, served as a powerful platform for advocacy, remembrance, and international engagement on the ongoing Uyghur crisis.