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Filmstill XY Chelsea

© Film still XY Chelsea

Film

What does it mean to be a whistleblower?

XY Chelsea is a documentary about the US-whistleblower Chelsea Manning, who sacrificed her freedom by leaking over 750,000 classified government documents in a controversial 16 years ago.

democracy
journalism
freedomofthepress
humanrights
society
Jana Sepehr
05.03.2026

It’s been 16 years since Chelsea Manning, a young Junior Intelligence Analyst of the US Army, sacrificed her freedom by leaking over 750,000 classified government documents in a controversial but undeniably courageous fight for government transparency.

What does it mean to be a whistleblower? What does it take to risk everything to ensure the people have a right to information? How does one rebuild a life after all of that?

As Chelsea Manning put it herself:

“I prefer a painful truth over
any blissful memory.” 


We, in collaboration with Disruption Network Lab and Sputnik Kino, are excited to invite you to a screening and discussion of XY CHELSEA (OV) on Monday, 16 March, 7:00 PM, at Sputnik Kino.

The documentary accompanies Manning as she leaves prison and begins a new life, while simultaneously dealing with the far-reaching consequences of her past. The film follows her fight for survival and dignity and her transition from prisoner to free woman. 

“Films like XY Chelsea help us to understand that important societal changes are driven by individuals who have the courage to take risks. These actions touch us emotionally and empower us”, says Tatiana Bazzichelli, Founder and Artistic Director of Disruption Network Lab. 

“We can all relate to courageous individuals like Chelsea Manning, who changed their lives to create a better society. Their actions have a deep, inspirational effect, providing a deeper understanding of wrongdoing and global injustice.”

The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Tatiana Bazzichelli and Anna Ramskogler-Witt, Founder and Artistic Director of Doxumentale. 

To get more information and tickets click here.

Doxumentale, Disruption Network Lab, and Sputnik Kino co-present:

XY CHELSEA (OV) + Q&A
Monday, 16 March, 7:00 PM, Sputnik

USA 2019 | Documentary | Director: Tim Travers Hawkins

XY CHELSEA tells the historic story of whistleblower Chelsea Manning, whose 35-year sentence in an all-male maximum security prison was commuted by President Obama in 2017. XY CHELSEA is the journey of her fight for survival and dignity, and her transition from prisoner to a free woman.

Click here for Trailer, Tickets and more

Jana Sepehr

Jana Sepehr is a freelance journalist for Die Zeit, Der Spiegel and ZDF, among others. She accompanies the Dokumentale as editor-in-chief of the program magazine and supports the D'Salon as curator.

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