The Program

2012 0h 9m EN

🤯

9.0

MASTERPIECE

★9.0TMDB · 1

Documentary

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Filmmaker Laura Poitras profiles William Binney, a 32-year veteran of the National Security Agency who helped design a top-secret program he says is broadly collecting Americans' personal data.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Laura Poitras
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 9-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 14 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Laura Poitras, shot by Katy Scoggin. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Qasim Naqvi. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Laura Poitras shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt4538010 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 1 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Laura Poitras directs. Katy Scoggin behind the camera. Qasim Naqvi scores. Laura Poitras cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 9-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
2Released 14 years ago.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Laura Poitras, shot by Katy Scoggin. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Qasim Naqvi. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Laura Poitras shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7IMDB entry: tt4538010 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 1 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.