“Terrorizing Dissent” and “Democracy 101″ director targeted on way to cover Toronto protests

JUNE 24TH/2:31PM EST—In a telephone conversation with the RNC ’08 Report, protest film-maker Vlad Teichberg—director of the 2008 RNC documentary Terrorizing Dissent, and 2009 G-20 documentary Democracy 101—described his experiences at the border with Canada, while on his way to cover the G-20 in Canada, taking place this weekend.

Teichberg and Shelby Voice, a colleague from the Brooklyn, New York-based Glassbead Collective, were greeted by Canadian border officials who told him “We have your picture” and, after a brief discussion, were refused entry to Canada pending fulfillment of an extensive list of documentation requirements—see photograph here—before they would be allowed to enter Canada.

Requirements specified with circles on the form given to Teichberg and Voice included:

3. PROOF OF FOREIGN RESIDENCE (recent rent receipts, copy of mortgage, deed, various utility bills),

4. EVIDENCE OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT (bank statements, savings/chequing account, transaction books, income tax forms, etc)

5. EVIDENCE OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE (current stubs from unemployment insurance, welfare, disability pension, etc)

6. EVIDENCE PERTAINING TO EDUCATIONAL TIES/APPLICATION TO STUDY IN CANADA (valid school ID, letter from school official, letter of acceptance, outline & duration of course(s), proof of student loan/funds, etc)

8. CONFIRMED MEANS OF DEPARTURE FROM CANADA (airline, bus, train tickets with time and date indicated)

9. SUFFICIENT FUNDS OR ADEQUATE ARRANGEMENTS FOR YOUR INTENDED TRIP (cash, travellers cheques, letter from your Canadian host stating that they will provide for your financial & medical support/accommodations)

10. DESTINATION IN CANADA (address, telephone number, name of relative or friend)

Teichberg called the RNC ’08 Report from the U.S.-Canada border at Niagara Falls, where he and Voice were busy producing the materials with the goal of trying again to enter Canada to cover protests outside the Summit, which takes place June 26-27, 2010.

The RNC ’08 Report, which has worked with Teichberg on a variety of documentary projects since the 2008 RNC, will continue to follow the story and post updates as news breaks.

For more information about independent journalism and protest coverage, see the Documentaries section of the RNC ’08 Report, and read Nigel Parry’s “From St. Paul to Pittsburgh: Citizen Media is Not a Crime”.

UPDATE: Teichberg and Voice both were ultimately granted entry into Canada.

Follow the Toronto G-20 story via the website of the Toronto Media Coop at http://toronto.mediacoop.ca