THE DOCUMENTARY CHANNEL® HONORS ACADEMY AWARD®-WINNING AND NOMINATED FILMS WITH EXCLUSIVE PRIMETIME TELECASTS
ALL 31 DAYS DURING MARCH
Daily “Oscar’s Picks” Begin at 8 p.m. ET/PT and Represent Honorees from All Seven Decades

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 8, 2010) — The Documentary Channel® (DOC) salutes outstanding achievement in documentary filmmaking throughout March by telecasting an Academy Award®-winning or nominated documentary every day of the month beginning March 1 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The network’s special “Oscar’s Picks” programming will include documentaries of both the short-subject and feature-length variety from all seven decades that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences® (A.M.P.A.S.®) has presented documentary awards.

The selection to lead off DOC’s month of “Oscar’s Picks” programming goes to – “If You Love This Planet” – which captured the Academy Award for Best Documentary, Short Subjects, in 1983 for filmmakers Edward Le Lorrain and Terre Nash. A story about the potential medical and societal consequences of a nuclear war, “If You Love This Planet” premieres Monday, March 1, and is one of six films making their network debut in conjunction with DOC’s regular Monday “Primetime Premieres” programming slot. The list of Monday network premieres also features Oscar® winners “Flamenco at 5:15” (March 8) and “In the Shadow of the Stars” (March 15), as well as nominees “The Colours of My Father” (March 8), “Hardwood,” (March 22) and “Iraq in Fragments” (March 29).

The remaining list of Oscar-winning documentaries to be telecast during March also includes: “Gravity is My Enemy” (March 2), “Battle of Midway” (March 3), “With The Marines At Tarawa” (March 9), “I’ll Find a Way” (March 17), “Seeds of Destiny” (March 18), “Prelude to War” (March 23), and finally “Toward Independence” (March 31).

Additionally, DOC will telecast a special all-new episode of its first original series, “DocTalk,” focusing on this year’s 82nd Academy Awards nominated documentaries on Friday, March 5, at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT, including segments on documentary feature contenders “The Cove” and “Food Inc.”

“March is a very special month on The Documentary Channel. We are thrilled to be able to bring to our viewers this wonderful array of Academy Award winning and nominated documentaries created by some of the finest documentary filmmakers spanning seven decades.,” says James Ackerman, President and CEO of The Documentary Channel.

“There is a bounty of rarely seen, high-caliber documentaries that have won or been nominated for film’s most prestigious honor – the Academy Award – and The Documentary Channel has always made it a priority to make more of them available to a mass television audience whenever possible,” adds Tom Neff, The Documentary Channel founder, chief creative officer, Oscar-nominated filmmaker and Academy member. “We are fortunate to be able to present viewers with 28 of these ‘Picks’ during March, all in primetime, and we hope the opportunity enables many new viewers to enjoy these gems for the first time.”
The following summary of The Documentary Channel’s exclusive “Oscar’s Picks” programming schedule for March:

Date Film Release Year Time
Mon., Mar. 1 “If You Love This Planet” (W) (P) 1982 8 p.m. ET/PT
“The Wildest Show in the South: Angola Prison Rodeo” (P) 1999 8:30 p.m. ET/PT
Tues., Mar. 2 “Gravity is My Enemy” (W) 1977 8 p.m. ET/PT
Wed., Mar. 3 “Battle of Midway” (W) 1942 8 p.m. ET/PT
Thurs., Mar. 4 “Red Grooms” 1987 8 p.m. ET/PT
Fri., Mar. 5 “Street Fight” 2005 8 p.m. ET/PT
Sat., Mar. 6 “If You Love This Planet” (W) (encore) 1982 8 p.m. ET/PT
“The Wildest Show in the South: Angola Prison Rodeo” (encore) 1999 8:30 p.m. ET/PT
Sun., Mar. 7 “Waco: The Rules of Engagement” 1997 8 p.m. ET/PT

Mon., Mar. 8 “Flamenco at 5:15” (W) (P) 1983 8 p.m. ET/PT
“Colours of My Father” (P) 1992 8:30 ET/PT
Tue., Mar. 9 “With the Marines at Tarawa” (W) 1945 8 p.m. ET/PT
Wed., Mar. 10 “Ryan” 2005 8 p.m. ET/PT
Thurs., Mar. 11 “City of Gold” 1958 8 p.m. ET/PT
Fri., Mar. 12 “Spellbound” 2003 8 p.m. ET/PT
Sat., Mar. 13 “Flamenco at 5:15” (W) (encore) 1983 8 p.m. ET/PT
“Colours of My Father” (encore) 1992 8:30 P.m. ET/PT
Sun., Mar. 14 “Balseros” 2003 8 p.m. ET/PT

Mon., Mar. 15 “In the Shadow of the Stars” (W) (P) 1991 8 p.m. ET/PT
Tues., Mar. 16 “A Time For Burning” 1967 8 p.m. ET/PT
Wed., Mar. 17 “I’ll Find a Way” (W) 1978 8 p.m. ET/PT
Thurs., Mar. 18 “Seeds of Destiny” (W) 1946 8 p.m. ET/PT
Fri., Mar. 19 “The Fires of Kuwait” 1992 8 p.m. ET/PT
Sat., Mar. 20 “In the Shadow of the Stars” (W) (encore) 1991 8 p.m. ET/PT
Sun., Mar. 21 “Long Night’s Journey into Day 2000 8 p.m. ET/PT

Mon., Mar. 22 “Hardwood” (P) 2004 8 p.m. ET/PT
Tues., Mar. 23 “Prelude to War” (W) 1942 8 p.m. ET/PT
Wed., Mar. 24 “Waco: The Rules of Engagement” (encore) 1997 8 p.m. ET/PT
Thurs., Mar. 25 “Blackwood” 1976 8 p.m. ET/PT
Fri., Mar. 26 “Speaking in Strings” 1999 8 p.m. ET/PT
Sat., Mar. 27 “Hardwood” (encore) 2004 8 p.m. ET/PT
Sun., Mar. 28 “Eyewitness: The Legacy of Death Camp Art” 1999 8 p.m. ET/PT

Mon., Mar. 29 “Iraq in Fragments” (P) 2006 8 p.m. ET/PT
Tues., Mar. 30 “Sunrise of Tiananmen Square” 1998 8 p.m. ET/PT
Wed., Mar. 31 “Toward Independence” (W) 1949 8 p.m. ET/PT
(P) – Denotes exclusive DOC Premiere
(W) – Denotes Academy Award Winner

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.

# # #

HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

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

THE DOCUMENTARY CHANNEL® PRESENTS U.S. TELEVISION PREMIERE
OF FILM FESTIVAL FAVORITE “YOGA INC.”
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15 AT 8 P.M. ET/PT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Jan. 28, 2010) — The Documentary Channel® (DOC) presents the exclusive U.S. television premiere of “Yoga Inc.,” a six-time film festival honoree, on President’s Day, Monday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The documentary takes an in-depth look into the world of yoga, examining an ancient spiritual practice and its controversial transformation into a competitive, commercialized, multi-million dollar industry.

“We are very pleased to be collaborating for the third time with filmmaker John Philp on his comprehensive look at the Yoga fitness phenomenon,” says Kate Pearson, The Documentary Channel’s senior vice president of programming. “With physical fitness playing a significant role in the lives of Americans, Philp’s documentary is an informative and unique film providing a profound assessment behind the tremendous success of yoga and its impact upon the world.”

“The film takes a close look at what happens when spiritualism and capitalism collide,” adds director Philp, “and I think a lot of people will be surprised.”

“Yoga Inc.” is the first documentary to explore a fundamental question; can yoga survive this war between the sacred and the profane with its good karma intact? The film follows the evolution of this long revered spiritual and transcendental form of mind and body training as it explodes into world-wide popularity by being commercialized and politicized into a variety of derivative forms and experiences that may barely resemble its original and intended blueprint. Does anyone have the legal right to claim “ownership” of yoga, or have the ability to enforce restrictions on teachers who share popular yoga styles with their students? Is yoga supposed to be competitive and does it belong in the Olympics? These issues and more are examined through an in-depth look at some complex characters, including competitive yoga circuit standout Esak Garcia, the “World Champion of Yoga,” and yoga guru Bikram Choudbury, a “Hollywood Yogi” who has developed a reputation as the “Bad Boy of Yoga.”

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.

# # #

HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Contacts:

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

THE DOCUMENTARY CHANNEL® SHOWCASES U.S. TELEVISION PREMIERE
OF LUCY WALKER’S MULTI-AWARD WINNING “BLINDSIGHT”
ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Jan. 11, 2010) — The Documentary Channel® (DOC) presents the U.S. television debut of multi-award winning documentary “Blindsight” on Monday, Feb. 1 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, witnessing the incredible journey of six blind Tibetan teenagers and their courageous trek up a 23,000 foot mountain in the Himalayas. The same evening, DOC is making the film available to online audiences in its entirety on the network’s Sling.com channel (www.sling.com/network/189/The-Documentary-Channel).

“This documentary by director Lucy Walker is a truly inspiring film of adventure and bravery,” says Kate Pearson, The Documentary Channel’s senior vice president of programming. “All done without the use of a script, this breathtaking and compelling film captures the true determination of strong individuals who would stop at nothing to make their dreams a reality.”

“If you ever had any doubt about yourself or what you can do in life, watch ‘Blindsight,’” adds Sybil Robson Orr, who produced “Blindsight” along with Executive Producer Steven Haft. “This is not a film about blindness, it is about overcoming the most impossible obstacles and succeeding when everyone and everything seems set against you.”
“Blindsight,” a four-time film festival Audience Award winner for Best Documentary, follows the gripping adventure of six Tibetan teenagers who set out to climb the 23,000 foot Lhakpa Ri on the north side of Mount Everest. A dangerous journey soon becomes a seemingly impossible challenge made all the more remarkable by the fact that the teenagers are blind. Believed by many Tibetans to be possessed by demons, the children are shunned by their parents, scorned by their villages and rejected by society. Rescued by Sabriye Tenberken - a blind educator and adventurer who established the first school for the blind in Lhasa, the students invite the famous blind mountain climber Erik Weihenmayer to visit their school after learning about his conquest of Everest. Erik arrives in Lhasa and inspires Sabriye and her students Kyila, Sonam Bhumtso, Tashi, Gyenshen, Dachung and Tenzin to let him lead them higher than they have ever been before. The resulting three-week journey is beyond anything any of them could have predicted.

Student Films Highlighted Later on Monday

Following the premiere of “Blindsight,” DOC will telecast a special episode of “DOC U” at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT, a platform for student documentary filmmakers to present their films to a national audience, which was made possible through the partnership between DOC and The University of Texas at Austin Documentary Center.

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.

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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.

# # #

HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Contacts:

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

IN FEBRUARY, THE DOCUMENTARY CHANNEL® DEDICATES
NETWORK’S SUNDAY PRIMETIME LINEUP
TO BLACK HISTORY MONTH FILMS
Noted Producer Debra Martin Chase Assists DOC In Selection of Special February Programming
Focused On African-American Documentaries and Filmmakers

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Jan. 21, 2010) — The Documentary Channel® (DOC) will celebrate “Black History Month” this February by showcasing rarely or never-before televised documentary films about the African-American experience and featuring African-American filmmakers, producers and directors. Leading off is the 2005 Academy Award®-nominated documentary “Street Fight” on Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. ET, followed by award-winning films “The Visitors,” “Beyond the Steps: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater” and “Chisholm’72: Unbought & Unbossed” on Feb. 14, 21 and 28, respectively.

“Given the state of both the economy and the motion picture business, the world of documentary filmmaking has never been more challenging,” says two-time Emmy® Award-nominated television and motion picture producer Debra Martin Chase, who worked with DOC to curate compelling and poignant films for its Sunday “Black History Month” primetime programming block. “It is particularly difficult for African-American filmmakers and I fear that as a result a whole generation will be lost. Tom Neff and The Documentary Channel share my concern and we have designed this showcase to let the visions and voices of these talented filmmakers be seen, heard and celebrated.”

“We are thrilled to champion documentaries both by black filmmakers and about the black experience, and feel these are unique, important perspectives for the American public to see,” adds Tom Neff, The Documentary Channel founder and chief creative officer. “DOC is committed to exposing these and other similar incredible films which are rarely seen, or have disappeared from the public eye for too long. Working with Debra and her team on curating these films was a great privilege and pleasure, and has spurred us to work together on other, new projects involving black and minority filmmakers.”

Making its network premiere Sunday, Feb. 7 is “Street Fight,” a 2005 Oscar® nominee written, directed and produced by Marshall Curry which chronicles the underbelly of American democracy. When Cory Booker, a 32-year-old Yale Law grad, takes on the four-term mayor of Newark, N.J., he gets an education in the politics of the streets. The city’s political machine unleashes a campaign of harassment and voter intimidation, and the election unfolds amid accusations of terrorism, a Watergate-style burglary, and sexual scandal. When it becomes racially charged—a surprising twist for a battle between two African-American candidates—voters are forced to ask what it means to be “really black” in America today. In addition to Oscar nomination, “Street Fight” also won awards at the Hot Docs Canadian International, Tribeca, Silverdocs Documentary and Ashland film festivals, and was nominated for an Emmy® for outstanding continuing coverage of a news story (long form).

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In its exclusive U.S. television premiere Sunday, Feb. 14, “The Visitors” is a documentary about passengers of a charter bus who leave New York City every weekend for various prisons located in remote rural towns and villages in Upstate New York, where 95 percent of the state’s 70 prisons are located. Every Friday night about 800 people, mostly women and children, almost all of them African American and Latino, gather at Columbus Circle in Manhattan and board buses. Depending on the destination, the trips can take 8 or 10 hours one way. Reflecting the struggles of a unique culture living at the intersection of confinement and the free world, the story of “The Visitors” follows the coordinator of a bus -Denise- whose husband is coming home soon after 17 years of imprisonment. Produced and directed by Melis Birder, the film was an official selection to the 2009 Urbanworld, Full Frame and Istanbul International film festivals.
“Beyond the Steps” premieres on DOC for the first time Sunday, Feb. 21 and follows Alvin Ailey’s American Dance Theater during a pivotal time in its history as the company ventures abroad while establishing new roots at home in New York City. When the company moves into a state-of-the-art facility called “the largest in the country devoted exclusively to dance,” longtime company Artistic Director Judith Jamison creates a new ballet entitled Love Stories. Choreographed in collaboration with hip-hop pioneer Rennie Harris and modern dance maverick Robert Battle, Jamison explains that Love Stories expresses “the past, present and future” of the company. Ailey dancers take center stage in this documentary as the troupe brings this new work to the White Nights Dance Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia. “Beyond the Steps,” directed and produced by Phil Bertelsen, tells the story of what it takes to keep dance modern, art relevant, and a legacy alive.

“Chisholm ’72: Unbought & Unbossed” won the 2006 Peabody Award and makes its debut on DOC Sunday, Feb. 28. It is the first historical documentary on Brooklyn Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm and her campaign to become the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee in 1972. Director/producer Shola Lynch follows Chisholm from the announcement of her candidacy in January ‘72 to the Democratic National Convention in Miami, Florida in July ’72. The story is like Chisholm herself– fabulous, fierce, and fundamentally “right on.” Chisholm’s fight is for inclusion, as she writes in her book The Good Fight (1973), and encompasses all Americans “who agree that the institutions of this country belong to all of the people who inhabit it.” Shunned by the political establishment, Congresswoman Chisholm asks people of color, feminists and young voters for their support to “reshape our society and take control of our destiny as we go down the Chisholm Trail in 1972.” To the surprise of many, voters responded. “Chisholm ’72” reflects Chisholm’s wit, spirit, and charisma, reminding all Americans of their power as citizens while inspiring some to join the Chisholm Trail and continue fighting “The Good Fight.” A REALside Production, “Chisholm ‘72” also collected nominations at the Sundance Film Festival and Independent Spirit Awards.

A summary of network’s exclusive “Black History Month” programming schedule in February is as follows:

Sunday, Feb. 7 “Street Fight” 8 p.m. ET/PT
Sunday, Feb. 14 “The Visitors” (P) 8 p.m. ET/PT
Sunday, Feb. 21 “Beyond the Steps” 8 p.m. ET/PT
Sunday, Feb. 28 “Chisholm ’72: Unbought & Unbossed” 8 p.m. ET/PT
(P) – Denotes exclusive 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.

“Street Fight” is a Marshall Curry Production, in association Moxie Firecracker Films. A co-production of the Independent Television Service (ITVS) in association with POV/American Documentary Inc.

Executive Producer for ITVS is Sally Jo Fifer.

Funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

# # #

HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Contacts:

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

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Dec 1, 2009) — The Documentary Channel® (DOC) helps ring in the new year by debuting its first original half-hour series, “DocTalk,” on Friday, Jan. 1, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The “DocTalk” series is produced by Documentary Channel Original Productions and, beginning New Year’s Day, it will now tip-off DOC’s primetime programming every Friday night throughout 2010.

Created and executive produced by Tom Neff, and produced by Barry Rubinow, “DocTalk” takes a compelling, inside look at the modern world of documentary film. Utilizing extensive, in depth interviews with the world’s top documentary filmmakers, along with scenes from their films, “DocTalk” delves into the filmmakers’ process and motivations for how and why they made their films.

“‘DocTalk’ is an entertaining, informative and emotionally moving series that we feel is a must see for any hardcore or casual documentary fan,” says Neff, executive producer and The Documentary Channel’s founder and chief creative officer.

In the premiere episode, “DocTalk” will explore four dynamic documentaries. Director Kenny Ortega and his team recall the warm memories and musical mastery of working with the king of pop, in Michael Jackson’s “This Is It.” Michael Moore follows the money from Wall Street to Capitol Hill to the country’s heartland in “Capitalism: A Love Story.” Director Davis Guggenheim and producer Leslie Chillicott give insight into the making of the rock guitar saga, “It Might Get Loud,” with added commentary from Jack White and Jimmie Page, two of the film’s subjects. And finally, director Aaron Marshall discusses the unique challenges of following a 12-year-old girl and her mom as they make a blood-filled horror movie in “Zombie Girl: The Movie.”

“It has been a great pleasure to talk one on one with the great documentary filmmakers of our time,” reports producer Rubinow, DOC senior vice president of creative services, “and I think our audience will thoroughly enjoy the films and the fresh perspective given in these thoughtful, revealing interviews.”

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.

-more-

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.
# # #

HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Contacts:

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

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Dec. 9, 2009) — The Documentary Channel® (DOC) premieres four engaging films during January as part of its Monday “Primetime Premieres” lineup, including one world premiere (“Misha Vs. Moscow”) and two U.S. television premieres (“Personal Che” and “What Remains of Us”). This weekly primetime schedule will be telecast one hour earlier beginning in January, kicking off at 8 p.m. ET/PT (with the exception of NYC TV’s 9 p.m. ET start in New York). Also in January, DOC will showcase an encore performance of its “Primetime Premieres” programming on Saturday evenings, also at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

“Our documentary films feature people and situations which no television writer could invent,” says Kate Pearson, The Documentary Channel senior vice president of programming. “The stories are fascinating and best of all, real. All the drama and controversy anyone could ask for, without a script.”

Many films have sought to reveal the man behind the myth of Che Guevara, but in its exclusive U.S. television premiere on Monday, Jan. 4, “Personal Che” does just the opposite, seeking to explore the myth, not the man. Legends about Argentine-born physician Ernesto “Che” Guevara take on a life of their own as people from around the globe reinterpret it for themselves. From a rebel living in Hong Kong fighting Chinese domination to a German neo-Nazi preaching revolution and a Castro-hating Cuban, the testimonies in the film—written and directed by Adriana Marino and Douglas Duarte—prove that the Argentinean revolutionary’s historical impact reverberates still, 42 years after his execution at age 39.

On Monday, Jan. 11, DOC presents the U.S television premiere of “What Remains Of Us.” Shot between 1996 and 2004, the film uses small digital cameras and takes viewers to the heart of the tragedy that has consumed Tibetan society for over half a century, without the knowledge of the Chinese authorities. Key footage was provided by Kalsang Dolma, a young Tibetan refugee in Quebec, who crosses the Himalayas to carry a video message recorded by the Dalai Lama into one of the largest prisons in the world. The film tackles the crucial issue of individual and collective responsibility towards three generations of Tibetans who, despite the disappearance of 1.2 million of their fellow citizens, have always refused to yield to violence.

“Beyond Wise Guys,” making its network debut Monday, Jan. 18, features an interview and clip-driven look at Italian-Americans in the movies, from early films through the present. The film includes commentary from some of America’s greatest Italian-American actors, directors, screenwriters and authors such as: Paul Sorvino, Marisa Tomei, Martin Scorsese, Ben Gazzara, John Turturro, Frank Capra, Jr., Isabella Rosselini, Joe Pesci, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci, Jack Valenti and David Chase.

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Narrated by Paul Borghese and executive produced by John Turturro, “Beyond Wise Guys” shows how Italian-Americans transformed themselves from outsiders, stereotyped by the Hollywood establishment as mobsters, into industry insiders and a creative force to be reckoned with. Using a mosaic of interviews with well-known contemporary Italian-American filmmakers, the documentary highlights the ways in which these filmmakers use their heritage to positively shape the art and craft of American cinema.

In its exclusive world television premiere Monday, Jan. 25, “Misha Vs. Moscow: The Battle for Georgia’s Future” takes a closer look at Georgian president Mikheil “Misha” Saakashvili, who now finds himself ostracized by his western allies and facing demands at home to resign after having led his country into a disastrous war against Russia. Director John Philip obtains exclusive access to Saakashvili, his inner-circle and his most vocal critics as “Misha Vs. Moscow” asks whether Saakashvili can regain his crown as the darling of international politics or whether the war has torpedoed any chance of peace with Russia.

A summary of network’s exclusive Monday “Primetime Premieres” January schedule is as follows:

Monday, Jan. 4 “Personal Che” (P) *8 p.m. ET/PT
Monday, Jan. 11 “What Remains of Us” (P) *8 p.m. ET/PT
Monday, Jan. 18 “Beyond Wise Guys” *8 p.m. ET/PT
Monday, Jan. 25 “Misha Vs. Moscow” (WP) *8 p.m. ET/PT
(P) – Denotes exclusive U.S. Television Premiere
(WP) – Denotes exclusive World Television Premiere
* - Airs at 9 p.m. ET only on NYC-TV

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.
# # #

HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Contacts:

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

14 IMAX Film Favorites Featuring Some Of Hollywood’s Biggest Stars

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (November 23, 2009) — As a special present during the holiday season, The Documentary Channel® (DOC) has wrapped a four-day weekend gift package of family-friendly IMAX® film favorites for viewers to enjoy during primetime, beginning with the exclusive telecast of “The Nutcracker” on Christmas Eve, Thursday, Dec. 24, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. All told, DOC will showcase 14 IMAX films throughout the four-day holiday weekend, Dec. 24-27, including credited roles by such Hollywood stars as Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, John Corbett, Matt Damon, Morgan Freeman and Maria Bello, among others.

“We’ve chosen entertaining, visually stunning IMAX features that everyone in the family can relish during this special time of year,” says Kate Pearson, DOC senior vice president of programming. “The films place value in the authentic, such as nature, space and people, for the holidays.”

As part of the network’s special IMAX holiday weekend lineup, DOC will feature IMAX box office hits including two of the top 10 largest grossing films in IMAX history, such as “China: The Panda Adventure” (Dec. 24, 8:50 p.m. ET), “T-Rex: Back to the Cretaceous” (Dec. 25, 8:55 p.m. ET), Tom Cruise narrated “Space Station” (Dec. 25, 9:55 p.m. ET), “Galapagos” (Dec. 26, 8 p.m. ET) and the Tom Hanks narrated “Magnificent Desolation” (Dec. 26, 9:40 p.m. ET).

The collection of films are part of DOC’s exclusive 21-film IMAX package which has been brought to television audiences for the first time. They also represent some of the most successful films in IMAX history that have a combined estimated total of more than $600 million in gross box office receipts.

The network’s IMAX holiday weekend schedule Dec. 24-27 is as follows:

Thursday, Dec. 24 “Nutcracker” 8 p.m. ET
“China: The Panda Adventure” 8:50 p.m. ET
“Ozarks: Legacy and Legend” 9:55 p.m. ET

Friday, Dec. 25 “Survival Island” 8 p.m. ET
“T-Rex: Back to the Cretaceous” 8:55 p.m. ET
“Space Station” 9:55 p.m. ET

Saturday, Dec. 26 “Galapagos” 8 pm. ET
“Fires of Kuwait” 8:50 p.m. ET
“Magnificent Desolation” 9:40 p.m. ET
“Skyward” 10:30 p.m. ET

Sunday, Dec. 27 “Blue Planet” 8 p.m. ET
“Heartland” 8:55 p.m. ET
“Into The Deep” 9:45 p.m. ET
“Last Buffalo” 10:25 p.m. ET
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.

# # #

HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Contacts:

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

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (November 12, 2009) — The Documentary Channel® (DOC) helps celebrate 90 years of Nelson Mandela’s extraordinary life when it telecasts the exclusive U.S. television premiere of “Viva Nelson Mandela: A Hero For All Seasons,” beginning Thursday, Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. DOC’s encore presentations of the 90-minute feature-length documentary will be telecast in primetime on Tuesday, Dec. 15 and Friday, Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

“Viva Nelson Mandela: A Hero For All Seasons” is directed and edited by Catherine Meyburgh, who guides the viewer on a journey behind the headlines and away from the public eye and by looking at Mandela as a loyal friend, a dependable comrade, a trusted confidant, a respected mentor, and a man who has touched and transformed countless lives. For the first time his complete story is being told – a life of struggle, humanity, destiny and greatness is recalled and celebrated by those who knew him best and who worked with him in the quest to break the chains of oppression, taking us beyond the political and into the personal.

Produced by Anant Singh, the documentary features exclusive interviews with politicians, close friends and comrades of Mandela, among who are Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Oliver Tambo, George Bizos, Ahmed Kathrada, Pik Botha, Dorothy Masuka, Nthato Motlana, Cyril Ramaphosa, Helen Suzman, Zolani Mkiva, Jessie Duarte, Francois Pienaar, Sydney Kentridge, Mac Maharaj, Christo Brand and Gill Marcus. The film is distributed by Choices Inc, a specialty distributor of quality documentaries, educational programming, and feature films. More information is available online at www.choicesvideo.net.

In addition to the Mandela documentary, DOC will periodically telecast an original production of “DOC Talk” between Dec. 7-18 that highlights behind-the-scenes footage, film clips and interviews from the upcoming Warner Bros. Pictures feature film “Invictus,” starring Academy Award® winners Morgan Freeman (as Nelson Mandela) and Matt Damon and directed/produced by Oscar® winner Clint Eastwood.

“We are honored to be premiering ‘Viva Nelson Mandela’ because it is such a comprehensive, in-depth portrait of a man who teaches every one of us that greatness and humility can be achieved through perseverance,” says Kate Pearson, The Documentary Channel senior vice president of programming.

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.

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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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HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Contacts:

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

DOC also is making both films available online in their entirety on the network’s Sling.com channel (www.sling.com/network/189/The-Documentary-Channel) beginning Monday, Dec. 7.

“These two storytellers share their highly personal and fascinating stories of self discovery, yet they do so with very different tones that are equally impactful,” says Kate Pearson, The Documentary Channel senior vice president of programming. “‘Born Again’ is more serious in its introspection while ‘Circumcise Me’ will have you rolling on the floor with laughter – after all, he is a stand-up comedian!”

“Born Again” is the story of Pennsylvania-born filmmaker Markie Hancock, who was indoctrinated as a child to be a born-again Evangelical Christian. Although a fervent believer into her early twenties, Hancock began experiencing dissonance and doubt. In its network debut, “Born Again” uncovers Hancock’s slow and painful break with her faith and devout Christian family as she experiences new directions for her life including her sexual awakening as a lesbian. Upon returning home from several life-changing years in Berlin, she recognizes that the split with her family is irreconcilable unless she returns to the faith and no longer lives her life as a lesbian. Through this personal exploration we see a divided family, a divided nation, and a divided self who, despite the odds, emerges whole.

“Circumcise Me: The Comedy of Yisrael Campbell” makes its network premiere on DOC after a successful run on the film festival circuit. The documentary, directed by David Blumenfeld and Matthew Kalman, chronicles the life journey of Christopher Campbell, an average Irish, Italian Catholic kid from Philadelphia, comic actor, sober alcoholic, recovering drug addict, husband, father, reform, conservative, unorthodox, orthodox Jew. His name is now Yisrael Campbell, and this documentary is his story—a spiritual journey stretching across four decades, two continents, and three circumcisions. It’s that rare collision of comedy and theater that will have women howling with laughter, men squirming in their seats, and everyone standing up to cheer. Poignant, provocative, and powerfully witty, “Circumcise Me” is the true—and truly unforgettable—story of a man who was born to be funny. The Jewish part came later. More information available online at: http://www.circumcisemetheplay.com.

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.

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About Seventh Art Releasing: Seventh Art Releasing is an independent full service distributor, producer, sales agent, and specialized releasing and marketing company that continues to distribute unique, award-winning documentaries and fiction films since 1994. In the 15 years since its inception, the company has handled over 250 films and counting. Seventh Art’s films have received many awards, including both Academy Award nominations and Oscars. For information, visit www.7thart.com.

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.

# # #

HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Contacts:

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