'Press For Truth' Nominated For People's Choice Award at Iowa Film Fest

"It got many votes but was beat out by a film from New Zealand called 'This Way of Life'," reported co-director Bonnie Schmidt at the conclusion of the Iowa Independent Film Festival, speaking about Press For Truth's nomination in the Best Documentary category. The doc, directed by Ray Nowosielski, played the Clear Lake Arts Center last Friday and again on Sunday to close out the fest. Congratulations to director Tom Burstyn and the team at This Way of Life on their win. Their movie is an intimate portrait of a family in New Zealand, a modern parable about their unconventional response to the questions that confront many families in our current times.

The festival was plagued by the extreme high temperatures and heat index that much of the Midwest has been suffering through. "Well, that sure didn't help attendance," said Schmidt. "But not a bad crowd in those circumstances. The rooms were pretty full." She told the filmmakers about a couple of comments she received over the course of the fest. "A woman told me that she had just seen it. I asked her what she thought. She said, 'It made me really mad,' and I responded, 'Good. I think its supposed to make you mad. If it doesn't, then you won't do anything about it.'"

On Saturday, just before the Awards Ceremony, Schmidt was talking to a couple who were getting ready to leave and asked them what they had seen that they had liked. "Well, a lot of things," answered the man, "But I can't stop thinking about Press For Truth." Schmidt was reminded of the experience she and her husband, fellow festival co-director Greg Schmidt, had the first time they randomly found the movie on Netflix instant view. "We talked about it for days. It was really thought-provoking. It just really stuck with me. That's why we [requested the filmmakers submit it]."

The producers behind Press For Truth (John Duffy, Ken Ellis, Kyle F. Hence, Nowosielski, and Rory O'Connor) chose to release the movie theatrically in August 2006 and on DVD very soon after – sans a film festival premiere – in order for the movie to be seen by as wide an audience as possible in time for the 9/11 fifth anniversary. This decision prevented entry into most prominent film festivals, as many require they be the national premiere and preclude previous release on home video. Despite this, the doc has been invited to a number of festivals over the years, including "the most important Spanish language film fest in the world," Mexico's 22nd annual Guadalajara International Film Festival; the biggest doc fest in South America, Brazil's 12th annual 'It's All True' International Documentary Film Festival; "the most important fest of its kind in Central Europe," Czech Republic's 12th annual Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival; the 3rd annual Seattle True Independent Film Festival; and, now, the IIFF.

A big thank you to co-directors Greg and Bonnie Schmidt, festival founders Tanna Frederick, Richard Schinnow, and indie film legend Henry Jaglom, the rest of the team at IIFF, and everyone who came out to watch Truth and who voted for it for People's Choice Award in Best Documentary!

Iowa Indie Film Festival 2011 Begins Tomorrow

Press For Truth will be among the twenty-nine movies, both narrative and non-fiction alike, playing the opening day of the 5th annual Iowa Independent Film Festival tomorrow, Friday, July 15th. The 2006 documentary chronicling the so-called Jersey Widows' battle for transparency and accountability in the 9/11 attacks that killed their husbands will play at 3:00PM at the Clear Lake Arts Center at 17 South 4th Street in downtown Clear Lake, Iowa. It will also close the festival with a screening at the same theater at 4:00PM on Sunday, July 17th. Purchase your tickets here.

Beloved indie filmmaker Henry Jaglom conceived the IIFF in 2007 with Iowan actress Tanna Frederick after directing her in his movie Hollywood Dreams, a favorite of Jaglom enthusiasts. Among the documentary entries this year are Josh Tickell's Sundance Film Festival Audience Award-winner Fuel, a look at the gas crisis and how to solve it, and the short Earthship Haiti, an inspiring account of unique dwellings being built for survivors of the Haiti earthquake. A new addition to this year's fest is the Youth Film Festival for ages ten to eighteen. The awards ceremony on Saturday night will be followed by an industry social mixer featuring live music.

Iowa Film Fest Selects 'Press For Truth'

The producers of Press For Truth received the following email this morning from Bonnie Schmidt, the co-director of the Iowa Indie Film Festival:

"The board of the IIFF is very happy to inform you that your documentary film 'Press for Truth' has been chosen for this years festival. Congratulations! Your film is very powerful... It will be screened twice, Friday, July 15th, at 3pm, and Sunday, July 17th, at 4pm. It will screen in two separate venues."

Late last year, the IIFF requested the filmmakers submit the movie to the fest after one of its board members saw it on Netflix and felt it would fit their "goal to show films that will powerfully impact and change people... or at least the way they think."

Since the producers began monitoring web site traffic in July 2007, Iowa has remained #30 among visitors from U.S. states, exactly what one would expect based on it being the 30th most populous state in the country. Essentially, Iowans have been no more nor less interested in Press For Truth than the rest of the country. Perhaps its run in this festival will tip the scales?

More updates to come.

U.S. Satellite TV Airs Week of 'Press For Truth'

Press For Truth will air every day this week on Link TV, a channel carried nationally on DirecTV and Dish Network, from Sunday, December 12, through Friday, December 17.

The movie will join Marc Achbar's hit The Corporation, Robert Greenwald's Re-Think Afghanistan, Arianna Huffington's Third World America, Amy Goodman's We Will Not Be Silent, and the Howard Zinn doc You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train, among others, as part of the American satellite television network's week-long fundraising push. Link TV can be found at Channel 375 for those with DirecTV and Channel 9410 for those with Dish Network. View the schedule here.

Throughout the broadcasts, Link TV will also air segments of its 2007 original special produced to supplement Press For Truth. Peter Coyote, famed '60s activist-turned-actor best known as the mysterious scientist Keys in E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, interviews The Terror Timeline (HarperCollins) author Paul Thompson, whose work was featured extensively in the movie, about the media's failure to fully explore the issues surrounding 9/11.

Please support Link TV with a financial contribution. Donors of $150 or larger receive a PFT DVD and a Link TV tote bag.

November London Screening of 'Press For Truth'

For our U.K. supporters: Press For Truth will show at the new East London club Passing Clouds on Saturday, November 13th at 4:00pm. Afterward, the audience is encouraged to participate in a discussion of the movie at this unique arts bar space, occupied by an elite collection of artists, musicians, and performers.

Located in a 19th Century building, Passing Clouds has been described as a bohemian haven with a distinctive ambiance defined by decorations of ornate makeshift objects. They only serve drinks made with "ethical products", meaning that cocktails are made from fresh fruits and organic spirits and all beers and wines are non-brand names. The food being served changes from day to day. Thanks to owner William Beaufroy, himself an Oxford educated artist.

1 Richmond Road, near the Dalston Junction and Haggerston stations (behind the Haggerston Pub).

9th Anniversary Screenings on Both Coasts

Another anniversary of that terrible day is upon us, and there will be screenings of 'Press For Truth' in New York City and San Francisco.

In Frisco, 'PFT' will kick off the 6th Annual 9/11 Film Festival, co-sponsored by the San Francisco Bay Guardian, tonight at 7:00PM at VIZ Cinema, the 143-seat theater at the shopping and entertainment center in the heart of Japantown. 1746 Post Street. Tickets are $10.

On Saturday, Sept. 11 at 1:00PM, the historic Bal Theatre in the East Bay, closed in 2005 and only recently renovated and reopened, will screen 'PFT' at 1:00PM. 14808 E. 14th St., San Leandro. Tickets are $10.

If you can hang out for a while after the movie, be sure to listen to our friend Mickey Huff from the great Project Censored speaking at 6:00PM. You won't regret it. And on Sunday you can catch 'Press For Truth' back at the VIZ again at 1:45PM.

If you live in New York, please come to the free public screening tonight at 7:30PM at the famous Jivamukti Yoga Center at 841 Broadway, 2nd floor, in Manhattan. 9/11 first responder and health advocate Ken George will speak before the movie about the important efforts of the FealGood Foundation in advocating for first responders dealing with the catastrophic health effects resulting from their heroic work at Ground Zero.

Jivamukti is the largest yoga center in the nation and has been educating the public for more than twenty years about issues of truth, justice, and peace. Thanks to Satyavira Matthew Lombardo for organizing this screening! Be sure to also attend Matt's open yoga class the next morning, Saturday, September 11th at 11:00AM, where donations will go to the FealGood Foundation.

U.S. Broadcast Premiere of 'P4T' Tomorrow

It's been broadcast to an estimated ten million people on major outlets in twenty-eight nations. But until now, it has only aired on satellite channels in it's country of origin. Tomorrow, Wednesday, June 3, at 7:00 p.m., viewers in Denver, Colorado, will watch the PBS premiere of 'PRESS FOR TRUTH'.

The three hour event will feature live interviews from the KDBI Channel 12 studios with 9/11 family member Bob McIlvaine, as well as the movie's director Ray Nowosielski, producer Kyle F. Hence, and local activists. The next night, Thursday, June 4, at 6:30 p.m., the University of Colorado at Boulder will host a screening of 'PRESS FOR TRUTH' in Room 250 (Eaton Humanities). It will be followed by a Q&A with Hence and a sneak peak of the follow-up film in development, to be entitled 'FOOTNOTE 44'.

Also, if you're in Colorado, be sure to listen to Hence tomorrow morning on KGNU Radio at 8:00 a.m., after the top of the news hour. He will be interviewed by news co-director Joel Edelstein, Ph.D. (88.5FM Boulder / 1390AM Denver / 93.7FM Nederland)

PBS Becomes First Major U.S. Channel to Air 'P4T'

PBS station KBDI-TV 12 in Denver, Colorado, will become the first of the major U.S. television channels to broadcast 'PRESS FOR TRUTH'. The airing will take place on June 3rd at 7:00 p.m. 9/11 family member Bob McIlvaine will join producer/writer Kyle F. Hence and a special surprise guest in-studio during the three hour fundraising special.

Until now, only satellite channels LinkTV and Free Speech TV have aired the movie in the U.S. By contrast, an estimated 10 million overseas viewers have were exposed to the movie through broadcasts on the largest cable channel in the Middle East, on Norway's main commercial TV channel, on the public television channels in Spain and Poland, and on Australia's The History Channel, among others. Since the mid-2000s, polls commissioned by PBS have consistently placed the service as America's most trusted national institution. Denver's KBDI was one of the first PBS stations when it was founded in 1980. To our fans in Colorado, please support the station with your donation if you are able during these hard financial times. A pledge of $100 will get you a DVD of 'PRESS FOR TRUTH' plus our companion "deleted-scenes" DVD 'IN THEIR OWN WORDS'.

President Obama Claims to Have Liked ‘PRESS FOR TRUTH’

Brand new U.S. President Barack Obama, shown standing in the above photo with ‘PRESS FOR TRUTH’ executive producer Kyle F. Hence, told Hence that he has in fact watched the movie and "liked it.”

The story begins in early 2007 when Hence first presented then-Senator Obama with a DVD of the movie as part of an effort by the filmmakers to get copies to every member of the U.S. Congress.

Months later, in June 2007, Hence was in Seattle, Washington, to attend the movie’s showing as an official selection of the Seattle True Independent Film Festival (STIFF) when he learned that Obama would be attending a photo op event at the nearby Westin Hotel. Though the event was supposed to be the privilege of big time donors who had given the maximum donation of $2,300, Hence slipped by anyway, apparently mistaken for a member of Obama’s staff, into a small room where he got into the Senator's photo line.

When his moment with Obama came, Hence took the opportunity to hand him another DVD of ‘PRESS FOR TRUTH’ and ask him if he remembered their previous meeting.

“Of course,” responded the future President.

Hence questioned further, “Did you watch the movie?”

“Yes, I did,” Obama quickly replied. After a short pause, he added, “I liked it.”

The photo was immediately taken, and Hence was ushered away.

Although President Barack Obama seems to be an honorable man, he is also a politician. Therefore, the possibility must be considered that he was lying.

Taking him at his word, however, he is therefore aware of the many important issues regarding 9/11 that the movie explores. One can only hope then that he will support a new, truly independent investigation of September 11th during his first term, as the "Jersey Girls" and others have advocated. If Obama's statement is to be taken seriously that transparency and the rule of law will be touchstones of his administration, this investigation is a must.

In fact, there is anecdotal evidence suggesting that 'PRESS FOR TRUTH' may have affected his thinking in some areas. In August 2007, just two months after talking to Hence, Obama got into some hot water over aggressive comments he made toward Pakistan. “There are terrorists holed up in those mountains who murdered 3,000 Americans,” said Obama. “They are plotting to strike again. If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and [Pakistani] President Musharraf will not act, we will.”

He was so heavily criticized over that statement that some at the time suggested it might actually cost him the Democratic nomination. Obama retorted later at a debate, “We’re debating the most important foreign policy issues that we face, and the American people have the right to know.”

‘PRESS FOR TRUTH’ presented a strong case that Pakistan’s intelligence service, or elements of it, was involved in the 9/11 plot, or at least had foreknowledge of it. The movie criticized President George W. Bush for the bizarre partnership he formed with the country despite their apparent harboring of Bin Laden and others. [Note: The movie did not necessarily advocate aggression against Pakistan. It did advocate getting to the full, unvarnished truth about 9/11 so as to allow the American people to make educated decisions about their foreign policy and how best to ensure their safety.]

The movie also went into great detail to show Al Qaeda’s too-easy escape from Afghanistan to the mountainous border region of Pakistan. Obama has made it a centerpiece of his foreign policy to refocus the War on Terror to this area in order to defeat the Taliban and round up Bin Laden and his co-conspirators.

It might also be mentioned that, in addition to closing down the prison at Guantanamo Bay, President Obama appears ready to halt Bush's War Crimes Trials in favor of putting the accused 9/11 conspirators, the “Guantanamo Six” as they’ve been called, on trial in “open” civilian court, where the case against them can stand or fall on it’s own merits. Such trials were also strongly advocated in ‘PRESS FOR TRUTH’. [It should be noted, however, that there are still apparently many additional co-conspirators that have not yet been arrested for their role in the attacks.]

Anecdotal evidence aside, there is no real reason to assume that ‘PRESS FOR TRUTH’ has had any effect on the thinking of the new President. Then again, who knows?

Companion DVD Now Available!

'IN THEIR OWN WORDS: THE UNTOLD STORIES OF THE 9/11 FAMILIES' is the new, official companion DVD to 2006's underground hit 'PRESS FOR TRUTH'.

Over 2 hours of unseen interviews with the families and rare news clips originally intended for inclusion in the movie ended up on the cutting room floor -- until now.

Order the DVD here.

New Official Facebook Page

Long overdue, the makers of '9/11 Press For Truth' have launched an official page on the popular social networking website Facebook.com, now the fifth most trafficked site on the Internet.  If you are one of the over 80 million people with a Facebook account, come to our page and click "Become a fan" on the top right corner.

The page features exclusive materials, including photo albums, videos, events, a discussion board, and notes from the filmmakers.  Fans will also receive exclusive updates on the movie and the activities of Paul Thompson and the Jersey Girls.

Pennsylvania Cinema Begins Weekly Run of 'P4T'

The new year kicks off with '9/11 PRESS FOR TRUTH' beginning a theatrical run every Tuesday night at 7:00 PM at the Anthony Wayne Theater in the Philadelphia suburb of Wayne, Pennsylvania. Cost is $5.00 for adults, children are free. Proceeds go to the FealGood Foundation for first responders who are sick and dying from exposure to chemicals and dust in the cleanup.

The January 29th showing will be a special event attended by "Jersey Girls" Lori Van Auken and Mindy Kleinberg -- the 9/11 widows whose story is told in 'PRESS FOR TRUTH' -- as well as Bob McIlvaine, who lost his son Bobby in the WTC, the documentary filmmaker Dylan Avery, and 'PRESS FOR TRUTH' director Ray Nowosielski. Q&A will follow at the nearby restaurant FreeHouse.

The Anthony Wayne is a historic movie palace first opened in 1928. 109 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne, PA. This theatrical run will take place weekly through January and February. Thanks to Jon Gold and Betsy Metz for organizing it.

European Tour of Top Cinemas Begins Today

Starting today and continuing through December 17, '9/11 Press For Truth' will be coming to well-known movie theaters in important cities throughout France, Belgium, and Switzerland. The French capital of Paris, the Belgien capital of Brussels, and Switzerland's 2nd largest city, Geneva, will be among them. The movie will play in English with French subtitles.

The tour coincides with the November 20th DVD release of a European version of 'Press For Truth' (French translation: 'En Quete De Verite'), PAL, all zones, in English with French and Spanish subtitle options, available for order here.

The tour's French organizers explained, "We chose 'Press For Truth' because it is one of the best films ever produced on the subject of 9/11. It features both absolute factual accuracy and professional journalistic fairness." Democrats Abroad and other groups are helping out with promotion, as well as hosting private events to accompany many of the screenings.

In Paris, 'Press For Truth' is playing on Friday, December 7th, at the Action Christine Odeon, a two-room art house, located in a 17th Century building, the theater has been one of the pillars of Hollywood cinema in the City of Lights for over 30 years.

A larger follow-on European tour, to include London, is also planned for early 2008. The current tour consists of the following dates:

November 19
Brussels, Belgium
(The Capital of Belgium)
The Cinema Nova

November 23
Louvain, Belgium
(20 miles east of Brussels)
The Provinciehuis

November 26
Nancy, France
(The Lorraine region)
The Cinema Cameo

November 27
Metz, France
(The Lorraine region)
The Cinema Cameo Ariel

December 3
Lausanne, Switzerland
(30 miles northeast of Geneva, on the shores of Lake Geneva)
The Pathe Galleries 6

December 4
Geneva, Switzerland
(The 2nd largest city in Switzerland)
The Cinema Pathe Rialto

December 5
Lyon, France
(The 3rd largest city in France)
The Cinema CNP Terreaux

December 6
Marseille, France
(The 2nd largest city in France)
The Cinema Prado

December 7
Paris, France
(The Capital of France)
The Action Christine Odeon

December 11
Lille, France
(The 4th largest city in France, on the border of Belgium)
The Cinema Majestic

December 17
Toulouse, France
(The 5th largest city in France)
The Cinema Utopia

Many thanks to the organizers of this tour and to the cinemas showing the movie!

Over 600 at Montana Anniversary Screening

We have just received word that a Bozeman, Montana, screening of '9/11 Press For Truth' was also a major success. The Montana State University Leadership Institute sponsored the showing at the Emerson Center for the Arts and Culture on the evening of the 6th anniversary of Sept. 11th. Over 600 filled the theater, many standing.

The large and loving crowd was a bit of a surprise in this very conservative town of 30,000. Several MSU professors have now said that, as a result of seeing the movie, they will be holding meaningful dialogues on the subject in their classes.

Around 300 stayed as late as 11:00 P.M. for a panel discussion led by Jarl von Arlyon and Dr. Graeme MacQueen. Dr. MacQueen is a recently retired associate professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada.

Von Arlyon had offices in the World Trade Center and had been scheduled to host a tour at the top of WTC One at 9:00 A.M. on 9/11 but had overslept. He was familiar with the towers and security clearances necessary to enter and had previously discussed fears of possible terrorist attacks with the FBI and CIA. Von Arlyon first began examining certain issues related to 9/11 after viewing 'Press For Truth' earlier this year at the Seattle True Independent Film Festival.

National Public Radio (NPR) featured Von Arlyon and MacQueen live on Sept. 10th to talk about 'Press For Truth'. The showing also received a prominent write-up in Bozeman's major paper 'The Daily Chronicle'. Read it here.

Nearly 800 Turn Out for Minneapolis Screening on 9/11 Anniversary

The Riverview Theater, a 700-seat movie theater in Minneapolis, was filled beyond capacity for the Sept. 11th sixth anniversary showing of '9/11 Press For Truth'. Many sat on the stairs or stood for an hour and a half, while other unfortunate late-comers were turned away.

Famed FBI 9/11 whistleblower Coleen Rowley (2002 'Time Magazine' Person of the Year) introduced the movie, followed by Catherine Statz, who lost her sister at the Pentagon six years ago. Former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura was in attendance, as were several of the makers of 'Press For Truth'.

Many who were at the showing remained for another two hours at a follow-up Q&A across the street at the Riverview Cafe hosted by director Ray Nowosielski, co-producer John Duffy, and "wall of TVs" computer animator Erik Potter, along with Rowley and Statz.

Local television Fox9 News covered the packed event for an evening news story that truly was fair and balanced. View it below.



"Jersey Girl" Lorie Van Auken, a 9/11 widow whose story was told in 'Press For Truth', appeared that evening on the national Air America radio program 'Clout!', calling for the release of the entire CIA Inspector General's Report on 9/11. Listen here. Executive producer Kyle Hence also appeared on Portland Radio to talk about the movie.