Daniel

Based on an internationally bestselling book by Danish journalist Puk Damsgård, Daniel tells the true story of one of the most spectacular kidnappings in recent times. The protagonist is the young Danish photojournalist Daniel Rye who was held hostage for 398 days in Syria by the terror organization Islamic State, along with several other foreign nationals including the American journalist James Foley. The film follows Daniel’s struggle to survive in captivity, his friendship with James, and the nightmare of the Rye family back home in Denmark as they try to cope with the fear that they may never see their son alive again. At the center of this crisis, we find hostage negotiator, Arthur, who plays a pivotal role in securing Daniel’s release. (Santa Barbara International Film Festival)