Take No Prisoners (film)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Take No Prisoners is a 2025 American documentary film co-produced by Vanity Fair Studios and P3 Media.[1] The film examines international hostage negotiations, focusing on Roger Carstens—the former U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs—and his efforts to secure the release of Americans held captive overseas.[2] The documentary is based on a Vanity Fair article by Adam Ciralsky and is co-directed by Ciralsky and Subrata De.[3] Bernice King was an executive producer.[4] The film premiered at South by Southwest (SXSW) in 2025.[5][6]
The film provides access to the negotiation processes and behind-the-scenes operations involved in freeing American detainees, centering its narrative on the case of Eyvin Hernandez, a Los Angeles public defender held in Venezuela at the Casa de los Sueños and his subsequent release.[7] It follows the family's and Carstens' efforts to secure his release. It explores both the emotional toll on affected families and the negotiations. Jason Rezaian, a former hostage, hosted a panel at South by Southwest to discuss the film.[5] Screen Rant interviewed the producers at SXSW.[8]
Music
The film included singer David Nail's rendition of Bruce Cockburn’s "Pacing The Cage." His performance was produced by Frank Liddell with contributions from musicians Harrison Whitford and Dustin Christensen.[9] Nathan Matthew David produced the score for the film.[10]