THE DOCUMENTARY CHANNEL PRESENTS FRIGHTENING FILM LINEUP
DURING THREE-DAY HALLOWEEN WEEKEND
TELECASTING SIX CHILLING DELIGHTS IN PRIMETIME

Network Spotlights Exclusive U.S. TV Premiere of Feature-Length Documentary
“Zombie Girl: The Movie,” Starring 12-year-old Zombie Filmmaker Emily Hagins

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (October 6, 2009) — The Documentary Channel® (DOC) will treat viewers to a collection of six spine-tingling documentaries during the 2009 Halloween weekend, Friday, Oct. 30-Sunday, Nov. 1. The network will unmask several hair-raising documentaries in primetime, from a behind the scenes look at the making of a zombie film to an inside look into the world of working in a coroner’s office; from the tale of uncovering a shocking family history buried in a deceased mother’s apartment to the dangerous homicide cases in Guatemala City.

DOC unveils its special Halloween-spirited programming lineup with the exclusive U.S. television premiere of the feature-length documentary “Zombie Girl: The Movie,” scheduled for Friday, Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

“Halloween is a great opportunity for The Documentary Channel to offer up an assortment of appropriately quirky delights for everyone,” notes Kate Pearson, The Documentary Channel’s senior vice president of programming. “Our newest premiere ‘Zombie Girl’ is about a young girl who wrote and directed her own zombie movie. What more could you ask for during Halloween?”

A cult success on the film-festival circuit and winner of the “Spirit Award” at the Slamdance Film Festival in 2009, “Zombie Girl” chronicles the awe-inspiring journey of 12-year-old, Austin, Texas-based film enthusiast Emily Hagins as she spends two years writing, directing and editing her first feature-length motion picture, the zombie movie titled “Pathogen.”

“Our film has received a wonderful reception at our many film festival screenings,” says “Zombie Girl: The Movie” co-director/producer Aaron Marshall, “but the chance to make it available to a wider audience on television is what we’ve been looking forward to ever since we first heard about Emily. So, we’re very excited about our upcoming premiere on The Documentary Channel.”

Immediately following the “Zombie Girl” premiere on Friday, Oct. 30 is the exclusive network telecast of “If a Body Meet a Body” at 10:55 p.m. ET/PT, documenting the truth and reality of working at the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office, the busiest coroner’s office in the world.

DOC continues its Halloween-themed weekend on Saturday, Oct. 31, with the exclusive telecast of “Hanging Shadows: Perspectives on an Italian Horror Cinema” at 8 p.m. ET/PT, examining films and filmmakers that redefined the horror genre. An encore telecast of “Zombie Girl: The Movie” follows on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 9:05 p.m. ET/PT.

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On Sunday, Nov. 1, the network’s Halloween weekend enters its darkest hours beginning with the special broadcast of “Seven Dumpsters and a Corpse” at 8 p.m. ET/PT, a unique tale of two brothers trying to piece together their family history amidst the mess of their deceased mother’s apartment. Immediately following, the network will present “Crunch” at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT, documenting the challenges faced by 75-year-old Beverly Burns after she stumbles upon a shocking surprise. Finally, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, DOC will televise “Duel with the Devil,” which follows members of the special homicide task force in Guatemala City as they risk their lives solving thousands of homicides that occur every year.

“Zombie Girl: The Movie” was the brainchild of filmmakers Marshall, Justin Johnson and Erik Mauck, who were inspired by their own craft to chronicle the creative passion of an extraordinary pre-teen girl following her filmmaking dreams. This film documents the exhilarating and heartbreaking two years it took 12-year-old Hagins to shoot, edit and world premiere her feature-length zombie movie “Pathogen” to a sold out audience in Austin, Texas. With the help of her mother, Megan, as her agent, crew and biggest fan, Hagins launches an epic adventure in genre filmmaking, battling everything from budget shortfalls to self-doubt, all while coming of age as a teenager.

“I think the appeal of ‘Zombie Girl: The Movie’ stems from the universal themes it explores,” explains Marshall. “While there are plenty of moments in the film for horror fans to enjoy, at its core it is the inspirational story of a girl working hard to achieve a goal. It just happens that her goal is to make a feature-length zombie movie. The challenges she faces and the support she receives from her family and friends are recognizable to people of all ages — no matter what your passion or career.”

For viewers interested in Hagins’s full-length feature “Pathogen,” the film will be available for purchase through The Documentary Channel store at: www.documentarychannel.com/store.

“If a Body Meet a Body,” directed by Brian Davis, takes an in-depth, honest look at the reality of working at the busiest coroner’s office in the world, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office. Following three unique individuals who work at the coroner’s office in Los Angeles, the film asks the sobering question: “What happens when, on a daily basis, life is confronted by death?” Winner of the Bronze Metal in the Student Academy Awards, the film’s haunting visuals and eye opening subject matter create a visceral experience that shatters the glorified images of coroner’s employees presented by film and television today, and elucidates the reality of working with the dead in the City of Angels.

Paolo Fazzini’s “Hanging Shadows: Perspectives on an Italian Horror Cinema,” presents an informative historical overview of the giallo genre, exploring its genesis and chronicling the films, directors, and personalities that made up its golden age. This documentary features a fascinating study of a group of films and filmmakers that redefined the horror genre that forever changed the way we think of horror films.

“Seven Dumpsters and a Corpse,” nominated “Best Documentary” for the Swiss Film Prize, documents the story of filmmaker Thomas Haemmerli as he and his brother irreverently piece together their shocking family history amidst the chaos of their deceased mother’s apartment. Dark and compelling, this documentary is a strange, but unique saga involving baronesses and counts, stolen lovers and Nazi officers, lawsuits and counter lawsuits, and lots and lots of cats.

“Crunch,” directed by Sheila Schroeder, follows the challenges faced by 75-year-old Beverly Burns as she stumbles upon something she initially finds horrific, but determines she has a choice: she can either dwell on the tragedy or she can find the comedy. Recognizing her own cultural biases and with the help of a few friends, she finds the humor within the chance encounter.
“Duel with the Devil,” follows a special homicide task force including members of the RCMP through the streets of Guatemala City as they tackle thousands of homicides that occur every year. But it also is a human story about individuals who confront violence on a daily basis and risk their lives - just by seeking justice. Directed by Steven Hunt, this documentary provides audiences with access to areas rarely seen as we meet with both victims and perpetrators.

A summary of DOC’s Halloween weekend schedule is as follows:

Friday, Oct. 30 “Zombie Girl” (P) 9 p.m. ET/PT
“If a Body Meet a Body” 10:55 p.m. ET/PT
Saturday, Oct. 31 “Hanging Shadows” 8 p.m. ET/PT
“Zombie Girl” 9:05 p.m. ET/PT
Sunday, Nov. 1 “Dumpsters and a Corpse” 8 p.m. ET/PT
“Crunch” 9:45 p.m. ET/PT
“Duel with the Devil” 10 p.m. ET/PT

(P) – Denotes U.S. Television Premiere

DOC is available on DISH Network (Channel 197), and several broadcast stations in major markets including NYC TV (Channel 25) throughout the greater New York metropolitan area.

About The Documentary Channel®: The Documentary Channel (DOC) is the USA’s first 24-hour television network exclusively devoted to documentary films and the independent documentary filmmaker, providing viewers with round-the-clock opportunities to see fascinating, eclectic and award-winning documentary films of all lengths and genres. For more information on DOC, visit www.documentarychannel.com.

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Contacts:

Barry Smith / Cathy Vo / Bonnie Winings
SWPR Group
(818) 760-7131
bsmith@swprgroup.com / cvo@swprgroup.com / bwinings@swprgroup.com