Documentary Synopsis
On August 14, 2021, American schoolteacher Marc Fogel was wrongfully detained in Russia and sentenced to fourteen years in a Russian labor camp, sending shockwaves through the hearts of his family and friends. Driven by an unyielding determination to bring Marc home, Marc’s loved ones – including his activist sisters, devoted colleagues and students, loyal childhood friends, and the former U.S. Ambassador to Russia – unite to navigate the complex world of international politics and diplomacy. With each passing year, the Fogel family fears for Marc’s deteriorating health within the harsh confines of the Russian prison system, and family ties stretch thin beneath the burden of an uncertain future.
Depicting the unwavering commitment of Marc’s family and friends, this film delves into the raw and intricate dynamics of familial bonds and friendships, and offers an exploration of the profound challenges involved in repatriating wrongfully detained Americans overseas.
This is a case comparable to WNBA star Brittney Griner’s. But while the U.S. fought for Griner’s release after ten months of detainment, Fogel’s future continues to remain uncertain.
Who is Marc Fogel?
A history teacher from Oakmont, Pennsylvania, Marc had been a teacher at various international schools throughout his thirty-five-year teaching career in Colombia, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Venezuela, and Russia, where he instructed the children of U.S., British, and Canadian international diplomats and international political figures.
A naturally charismatic, thoughtful, and optimistic guy, Marc's history courses became very popular at the schools in which he taught. Students were drawn to his uniquely positive energy, and many left his classes feeling inspired and excited to keep learning. Marc always made an effort to connect with his students on a personal level, helping them navigate growing up in a foreign country.
Suffering from chronic pain after multiple surgeries on his back, knees, hips, and rotator cuff, Marc was prescribed medical marijuana as a pain management regimen from his doctor in Pennsylvania. As he landed in Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport for his last year of teaching before retirement, he was arrested for carrying 0.6 ounces of cannabis oil in his luggage.
At home, Marc is a loving husband, father, brother, and son. His wife Jane, his two sons Sam and Ethan, his sisters, Anne and Lisa, and his 94-year-old mother, Malphine, have all been fighting for his release since he was arrested.
Wrongfully Detained
One huge burden preventing Marc from being released is that he is not officially classified as 'wrongfully detained' by the US government. The wrongfully detained status is necessary for congressional support on the matter, and it was what brought Brittney Griner back home. Because it's been over two years with no word from the State Department, it is imperative that we get Marc's name out there so he can be officially recognized as a wrongfully detained US citizen. While other Americans wrongfully imprisoned in Russia, including Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich, have received this designation, Marc has not.
14 Years
Marc was sentenced to 14 years of hard labor in a Soviet-era Gulag that is notorious for its intense work, geographic isolation, violence, and other human rights issues. He is serving time with murderers and large-scale drug traffickers. Because most Russians convicted of Marc's crime receive 1-2 years in prison, it is clear that he is being used as a political pawn as tensions continue to escalate between the United States and Russia.
How Your Donation Will Help
Here is a breakdown of what we will do with these donations
- $6000 - production: travel, equipment rentals
- $2500 - post-production: color, sound, score
- $1500 - film festival distribution + promotion. The most important step of the process is getting as many eyes on this film as possible
Other Ways You Can Help
- Follow the production of this film on Instagram
- Join the Freedom for Marc Fogel Facebook group
- Follow the Free Marc Fogel Instagram page
- Write to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. Email him at S_SpecialAssistants@state.gov, urging him to designate Marc as wrongfully detained. You can find an email template here.
- Share this campaign and spread the word!
