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Oscar-Winning Director Asif Kapadia Reflects on Decade of Profiling by U.S. Authorities

Kapadia, known for acclaimed documentaries like 'Amy' and 'Senna,' recounts being placed on a U.S. watchlist after being reported as 'suspicious' by a taxi driver in the 2000s.

  • Asif Kapadia, a British filmmaker of Indian descent, was placed on a U.S. watchlist for nearly a decade after a taxi driver reported him for taking photos of Manhattan in the early 2000s.
  • Kapadia faced repeated airport detentions and interviews during this period, describing the experience as 'being watched and paranoid' becoming his normal.
  • He revealed that he needed letters of endorsement from studios like Universal to facilitate travel for film projects, including his Oscar-winning documentary 'Amy.'
  • Kapadia's new film, '2073,' blends drama and documentary to explore themes of surveillance, populist politics, and climate catastrophe, drawing from his personal experiences and global events.
  • '2073,' set in a dystopian future, is slated for release in U.S. cinemas on December 27 and in the UK on January 1, 2025.
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