Court TV(R) and Lionsgate Present the Untold Story of the 9/11 Commission Report in the Riveting Feature Length Documentary Film Narrated by Kevin Costner and Hilary Swank
On Native Soil: The Documentary of the 9/11 Commission Report
Searing Film of the Events Leading Up to and Following 9/11 Makes World Television Premiere On Court TV Monday, August 21, 9 PM ET/PT
Lionsgate to Release Special Edition DVD That Contains More Than 30 Minutes of Extra Footage Along With Extensive Extra Features Tuesday, August 22
"Those who died on 9/11 ... deserve that the story of their deaths be told truthfully."
Sally Regenhard, whose son Christian, a New York firefighter, died at the World Trade Center
Court TV has secured the exclusive television rights and Lionsgate, the leading independent filmed entertainment studio, has acquired the DVD rights to the powerful and critically-acclaimed ON NATIVE SOIL: THE DOCUMENTARY OF THE 9/11 COMMISSION REPORT. Created with the support and involvement of 9/11 victims′ families, ON NATIVE SOIL: THE DOCUMENTARY OF THE 9/11 COMMISSION REPORT includes compelling, never-before-seen interviews from the family members as it focuses on the actual events of that day. Narrated by Academy Award(R) winners Kevin Costner and Hilary Swank, the documentary thoughtfully details the personal stories of tragedy and triumph that led to the formation of the 9/11 Commission and the publication of the Commission'′ landmark report.
For Court TV, the acquisition comes as part of the network′s initiative to buy four to six documentary feature films a year. The network will air the World Premiere of ON NATIVE SOIL: THE DOCUMENTARY OF THE 9/11 COMMISSION REPORT on Monday, August 21 at 9 pm ET/PT. Lionsgate brings an extended version of the revealing documentary to Special Edition DVD the following day, adding more than 30 minutes to the main program. The DVD will also contain extensive extra features including additional interviews with some of the family members from the film, a downloadable 9/11 commission report and interactive photo gallery.
"As a network, we strongly believe in the concept of transparency, and that is what this film is all about: it details how American citizens demanded that their government investigate and explain what went wrong that terrible day," said Court TV President Art Bell. "That the facts and findings of the Commission are presented in a compelling yet completely non-partisan, non-political way underscores the film′s importance as a historical document in its own right. We are honored to bring it to a wide audience."
Lionsgate President Steve Beeks added, "September 11, 2001 is the most documented and analyzed event in the history of our nation. This unbelievably important work not only brings the findings of the 9/11 Commission to light, but also reveals the human side of the tragedy through never-before-seen interviews, personal stories of triumph, and one of the most comprehensive collections of 9/11 footage ever assembled on film. This is a program that everyone should see."
Directed by three-time Emmy award-winning news and film producer Linda Ellman, the film faithfully captures the events of that day and our civilian and government response, whose strengths and weaknesses are outlined in the 9/11 Commission Report. ON NATIVE SOIL: THE DOCUMENTARY OF THE 9/11 COMMISSION REPORT has powerful narration from Costner and Swank and includes sit-down interviews with U.S. Senators John McCain, Joe Lieberman and former U.S. Senator and past 9/11 Commissioner Max Cleland. While presenting provocative new details and exclusive interviews, the film focuses on the human side of the largest terrorist assault ever to take place in the United States by examining the treatment of the events that led up to the 9/11 attacks and revealing the efforts by a group of citizens who worked together to ensure that the 9/11 Commission would be convened and information disseminated to the public.
"I was in lower Manhattan that horrible day," said Hilary Swank, "I was drawn to the project by the amazing stories of the 9/11 families and survivors featured in the film, and I am proud that by contributing my voice to the project, I can help their voices be heard."
"I saw this film in a rough cut and wanted to become involved," said Kevin Costner. "It′s honest, it′s serious and it′s not political. This film tells stories every American will and should want to know."
ON NATIVE SOIL: THE DOCUMENTARY OF THE 9/11 COMMISSION REPORT is a Jeff Hays Film and Ellman Entertainment production of a Linda Ellman film. It is executive produced by Jeff Hays and Linda Ellman, and directed by Ellman, whose credits include 13 years with NBC Network News.
