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Following the terror attack that targeted cartoonists and killed 12 people at the offices of satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in Paris, France 3 aired a special broadcast of Cartoonists: Foot Soldiers of Democracy on Jan. 9.

The film, which premiered in the official selection at Cannes last year, follows imperiled artists from around the world in places as varied as Russia, Israel and Palestine, includingAi Weiwei in China and Jean Plantu Plantureaux in France, and focuses on the necessity of cartoonists to speak truth to power, even in the face of censorship and threats to their safety.

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The Hollywood Reporter spoke with French director Stephanie Valloatto and Romanian-born co-writer/producer Radu Mihaileanu about the dangers cartoonists face for "saying the things nobody wants to say."

You call cartoonists footsoldiers, which seems to state they are in a battle. What are they fighting for?

Milhaileanu: Cartoonists are on the front line. They are the first ones taking the pulse and they are saying to the public, Pay attention. What happened (at Charlie Hebdo) is exactly what the film is about. The film is about 12 cartoonists around the world, some in very difficult countries with dictatorships and some of them what we call democracy in France, the U.S., Belgium, Israel, and even they say our democracies are really in danger. What happened (at Charlie Hebdo) isnt just a question of was there enough defense by police, but its a question of how did we get here and why are they alone out there on the frontlines? Thats what the film speaks about.

Vallaotto: This term was really important for us, because it is like a war and they are on the frontline with a cartoon. With a cartoon when you see it you dont forget. Its the first thing you see in a newspaper. The image is stronger than words and will stay in your memory. With cartoons they are on the frontline always, and with their pencils they are like footsoldiers against many attacks, but they go on each day making cartoons.

What kinds of dangers do they face?

Vallaotto: Cartoonists are in danger every day. The danger is constant. Each day in each country there are many, many threats from politics, economics, the religious - jail, safety. The film shows cartoonists from Venezuela, China, Russia, Palestine, Tunisia, Algeria, and for each cartoonist the threats are the same. Its a struggle for them for freedom of expression and democracy. They are always under threat if they draw against religion. After the (Charlie Hebdo) event, and this is really important for me, I dont think the future will be the same for them now.

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'Foot Soldiers of Democracy' Filmmakers on the Threats Cartoonists Face Around the World (Q&A)