CNN Films
Film production company
Cable News Network Films (known as CNN Films ) is a motion picture division of CNN under Warner Bros. Pictures , originally launched in 2012.[ 1] Its first film, Girl Rising premiered in spring 2013 in the United States.[ 2] [ 3]
History
On October 8, 2012, CNN announced the creation of CNN Films. CNN says that it will acquire and commission original feature-length documentaries that will "examine an array of political, social, and economic subject matters." It also signed development deals with documentary directors Alex Gibney and Andrew Rossi .[ 4] [ 5] Since its creation, it already acquired the rights for Girl Rising , a 100-minute documentary narrated by Meryl Streep , Anne Hathaway , Kerry Washington , and Selena Gomez .[ 6]
While the documentaries will initially air on CNN, the network reportedly plans to enter them in film festivals and distribute them to theaters as well.
At the 2013 Sundance Film Festival , CNN announced the acquisition of three documentaries. It acquired the rights to air Life Itself , a film adaptation of Roger Ebert 's 2011 memoir, in television. The project will be directed by Steve James and executive produced by Martin Scorsese and Steven Zaillian . It is scheduled to air in 2014.[ 7] The two other untitled projects are expected to air on CNN in 2013. One, from directors Michael Tucker and Petra Epperleini, centers on 9/11 and reconstructs the events at Ground Zero ; the other, from director Andrew Rossi , focuses on the transformation of higher education, examining the costs and relevance of college.[ 8]
CNN Films bought the television rights of Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare which premiered on March 10, 2013, on CNN. The film was directed by Matthew Heineman and Susan Froemke . The film premiered on January 19, 2012, at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and was theatrically released on October 5, 2012.[ 9] [ 10]
CNN Films acquired Penny Lane's Our Nixon , and CNN premiered the film in August 2013, while Cinedigm released it theatrically.[ 11] [ 12] [ 13] The network has also then acquired the domestic television broadcast rights of the Sundance film selection Robert Stone 's Pandora's Promise and aired it on CNN in November 2013 while it was theatrically released five months before.[ 14] [ 15]
On December 10, 2020, CNN Films teamed up with the BBC to produce a documentary about the development and manufacturing of vaccines for the COVID-19 pandemic . The documentary that is not a film is produced by British virologist-turned-filmmaker Catherine Gale who also directs with American independent filmmaker and medical journalist Caleb Hellerman, and will air in 2021 on CNN in the United States under the title Race for the Vaccine and BBC Two in the United Kingdom under the title Vaccine: The Inside Story .[ 16]
Filmography
Title
Release date
Director(s)
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
Ref(s)
Évocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie
June 7, 2013
Seth Kramer Daniel A. Miller Jeremy Newberger
Daniel A. Miller
Seth Kramer Daniel A. Miller Jeremy Newberger
Girl Rising
June 16, 2013
Richard E. Robbins
Martha Adams Richard E. Robbins Tom Yellin
[ 6]
Blackfish
July 19, 2013
Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Gabriela Cowperthwaite Eli B. Despres
Manny Oteyza Gabriela Cowperthwaite
[ 17]
Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare
March 10, 2013
Matthew Heineman Susan Froemke
Matthew Heineman Susan Froemke
Matthew Heineman Susan Froemke
[ 9]
The Flag
September 4, 2013
Michael Tucker Petra Epperlein
Our Nixon
August 1, 2013
Penny Lane
—
Brian L. Frye Penny Lane
[ 11]
Pandora's Promise
November 7, 2013
Robert Stone
TBA
Jim Swartz Susan Swartz
[ 14]
An Unreal Dream: The Michael Morton Story
December 5, 2013
Al Reinert
Sole Survivor
January 9, 2014
Ky Dickens
Ky Dickens
Susan Aurinko Alexis Jaworski Amy McIntyre
41ON41
June 15, 2014
Lisa Lax Nancy Stern Winters
Lisa Lax Nancy Stern Winters
Whitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger
June 27, 2014
Joe Berlinger
Joe BerlingerCaroline Suh
Life Itself
July 4, 2014
Steve James
TBA
Garrett Basch
[ 18]
Documented
June 29, 2014
Jose Antonio Vargas Ann Lupo
Jose Antonio Vargas
Jose Antonio Vargas
Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story
September 4, 2014
Mark Herzog Sandrine Orabona
Mark Herzog Christopher Cowen
More than a Game
October 24, 2014
Kristopher Belman
Kristopher Belman Brad Hogan
Kristopher BelmanHarvey Mason, Jr. Kevin Mann Matthew Perniciaro
Ivory Tower
November 20, 2014
Andrew Rossi
Andrew Rossi
Andrew Rossi Kate Novack
Dinosaur 13
December 11, 2014
Todd Douglas Miller
TBA
Todd Douglas Miller
Sunshine Superman
May 22, 2016
Marah Strauch
Marah Strauch
Marah Strauch Eric Bruggemann
Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me
June 28, 2015
James Keach
—
James Keach Trevor Albert
Fresh Dressed
September 3, 2015
Sacha Jenkins
Sacha Jenkins
Nasir Jones Marcus A. Clarke
[ 19]
Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine
September 4, 2016
Alex Gibney
Alex Gibney
Alex Gibney
The Hunting Ground
November 22, 2015
Kirby Dick
Kirby Dick
Amy Ziering
Holy Hell
September 1, 2016
Will Allen
—
Will Allen Tracey HarnishAlexandra Johnes
We Will Rise
October 12, 2016
Enlighten Us: The Rise and Fall of James Arthur Ray
December 3, 2016
Jenny Carchman
—
Allyson Luchak
Now More Than Ever: The History of Chicago
January 1, 2017
Peter Pardini
—
Chicago
Unseen Enemy
April 7, 2017
Janet Tobias
Janet Tobias
Janet TobiasPeter Klein Rogger Lopez Michael Erhenzwei
Elián
August 24, 2017
Ross McDonnellTim Golden
Tim Golden
Alex Gibney Trevor Birney
The Reagan Show
September 4, 2017
Pacho Velez Sierra Pettengill
Francisco Bello Josh Alexander
Dan CoganAmy Entelis Houston King Regina Scully
Legion of Brothers
September 24, 2017
Greg Barker
—
Amy Entelis Vinnie Malhotra
Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent
November 12, 2017
Lydia Tenaglia
—
Susan Porretta
Trophy
January 14, 2018
Shaul Schwarz Christina Clusiau
—
Lauren Haber Julia Nottingham
RBG
May 4, 2018
Betsy West Julie Cohen
Betsy West Julie Cohen
Three Identical Strangers
June 29, 2018
Tim Wardle
Becky Read Grace Hughes-Hallett
American Jail
July 1, 2018
Roger Ross Williams
Roger Ross Williams
Roger Ross WilliamsFemke Wolting Bruno Felix
Love, Gilda
September 21, 2018
Lisa Dapolito
Bronwyn Berry Lisa Dapolito James Tumminia
Apollo 11
March 1, 2019
Todd Douglas Miller
—
Todd Douglas Miller Thomas Petersen Evan Krauss
Scandalous
November 15, 2019
Mark Landsman
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice
January 1, 2020
Rob Epstein Jeffrey Friedman
—
James Keach Michele Farinola Rob Epstein Jeffrey Friedman
John Lewis: Good Trouble
September 27, 2020
Dawn Porter
—
Erika Alexander Ben Arnon
Dreamland: The Burning of Black Wall Street
May 31, 2021
Salima Koroma
—
Salima Koroma
[ 20]
LFG
June 24, 2021
Andrea Nix Fine Sean Fine
—
Andrea Nix Fine Sean Fine Abby Greensfelder
[ 21]
Lady Boss: The Jackie Collins Story
June 27, 2021
Laura Fairrie
—
John Battsek Lizzie GillettStuart Ford Amy Entelis Courtney SextonMark Bell Bonnie VolandAndrew Ruhemann
[ 22]
Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain
July 16, 2021
Morgan Neville
—
Morgan NevilleCaitrin Rogers
[ 23]
The Lost Sons
September 26, 2021
Ursula Macfarlane
—
Amy Entelis Courtney Sexton Ross M. Dinerstein Liesel Evans Gagan Rehill
[ 24]
Julia
November 5, 2021
Julie CohenBetsy West
—
Julie CohenBetsy West Justin Wilkes Sara BernsteinRon Howard Brian Grazer Alex Prud'homme Bob Spitz
[ 25]
The Hunt for Planet B
November 20, 2021
Nathaniel Kahn
—
Nathaniel Kahn Bonnie Hlinomaz Sandra Evers-Manly Carleen BesteMatt Mountain Lawrence B. Benenson Gerry OhrstromAlberto Conti
[ 26] [ 27]
Citizen Ashe
December 3, 2021
Rex MillerSam Pollard
—
Rex MillerSteven Cantor Anna Godas Jamie Schultz Beth HubbardJeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe
[ 28]
Carole King & James Taylor: Just Call Out My Name
January 2, 2022
Frank Marshall
—
Frank Marshall
[ 29]
Navalny
April 11, 2022
Daniel Roher
—
Daniel Roher
[ 30]
Gabby Giffords Won't Back Down
July 15, 2022
Julie Cohen Betsy West
—
Lisa Espramer Sam Jinishian
[ 31]
Glitch: The Rise & Fall of HQ Trivia
March 5, 2023
Salima Koroma
—
Ken Druckerman Banks TarverAmy Entelis Courtney Sexton Dylan Abruscato Brandon Teitel Olivia Snyder-Spak Kevin Vargas
[ 32]
Little Richard: I Am Everything
April 21, 2023
Lisa Cortés
—
Lisa CortésRobert Friedman Liz Yale Marsh Caryn Caputosto Mike PowersGus Wenner Jason Fine
[ 33]
References
^ "CNN To Start Documentary Film Unit" . HuffPost . October 8, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2013 .
^ Benzine, Adam (October 8, 2012). "CNN launches feature docs division with 'Girl Rising' " . Real Screen. Retrieved April 30, 2013 .
^ "CNN Announces Creation Of CNN Films" . Foxtel. Archived from the original on May 19, 2013. Retrieved April 30, 2013 .
^ Lieberman, David (October 8, 2012). "CNN Creates Unit To Acquire Documentary Films For Theaters And TV" . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved April 30, 2013 .
^ Flint, Joe (October 8, 2012). "CNN's creation of film unit is step in right direction" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved April 30, 2013 .
^ a b Raftery, Liz (October 8, 2012). "Girl Rising to Help Launch CNN Films" . TV Guide . Retrieved April 30, 2013 .
^ Patten, Dominic (January 18, 2013). "Sundance: CNN Films Makes Buying Debut; Announces Trio Of Documentaries" . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved April 30, 2013 .
^ Miller, Daniel (January 18, 2013). "Sundance 2013: CNN Films Announces Three Documentaries" . The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved April 30, 2013 .
^ a b Patten, Dominic (March 1, 2013). "CNN Films Acquires 'Escape Fire' U.S. TV Rights; Healthcare Doc To Air In March" . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved April 30, 2013 .
^ "CNN Films: 'Escape Fire' Debuts on CNN on March 10 at 8pm ET" . CNN. March 1, 2013. Archived from the original on March 4, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2013 .
^ a b Guthrie, Marisa (April 24, 2013). "CNN Films Snaps Up Richard Nixon Documentary (Exclusive)" . The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved April 30, 2013 .
^ Fleischer, Matthew (April 24, 2013). "CNN Films acquires SXSW doc 'Our Nixon' to air on the network in August" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved April 30, 2013 .
^ "CNN Films and Cinedigm Acquire 'Our Nixon' " . CNN. April 24, 2013. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved April 30, 2013 .
^ a b Fleischer, Matthew (April 30, 2013). "CNN continues acquisition spree with 'Pandora's Promise' " . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved May 1, 2013 .
^ "CNN Films Announces Acquisition of 'Pandora's Promise' for Fall 2013 Broadcast" . CNN. April 30, 2013. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2013 .
^ Brian Steinberg (December 10, 2020). "CNN Films, BBC Team on Documentary Showing Race to Create Coronavirus Vaccine" . Variety . Retrieved December 11, 2020 .
^ Kaufman, Amy (January 25, 2013). " 'Blackfish' has SeaWorld in hot water" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved April 30, 2013 .
^ Koziarki, Ed M. (February 5, 2013). "James starts doc production on Roger Ebert's memoir" . Reel Chicago . Retrieved April 30, 2013 .
^ "Sacha Jenkins Talks Art, Culture and 'The Burning of Kingston' " . The Boom Box . July 8, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014 .
^ Hipes, Patrick (May 11, 2021). "CNN Sets May Airdate For 'Dreamland: The Burning Of Black Wall Street' From LeBron James' SpringHill – Update" . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved May 30, 2021 .
^ Day-Ramos, Dino (March 8, 2021). "HBO Max Sets Docu 'LFG' Following U.S. Women's National Soccer Team's Fight For Equality; First Teaser Released" . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved May 22, 2021 .
^ Wiseman, Andreas (August 9, 2019). "Jackie Collins Doc 'Lady Boss' Lined Up By AGC Studios, CNN Films, BBC Arts & 'Searching For Sugar Man' Outfit Passion Pictures" . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved May 31, 2021 .
^ Rubin, Rebecca (April 23, 2021). "Anthony Bourdain Documentary 'Roadrunner' Hitting Theaters This Summer" . Variety . Retrieved April 23, 2021 .
^ Rubin, Rebecca (January 14, 2021). "CNN Films to Develop Stranger-Than-Fiction Documentary 'The Lost Sons' " . Variety . Retrieved March 14, 2021 .
^ Wiseman, Andreas (April 17, 2020). "Sony Classics Acquires World Rights To Julia Child Doc By 'RBG' Directors, Imagine & CNN Films" . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved June 15, 2020 .
^ "The Hunt for Planet B" . CNN Creative Marketing . Retrieved December 17, 2021 .
^ "THE HUNT FOR PLANET B | From Director Nathaniel Kahn" . The Hunt for Planet B . Retrieved December 17, 2021 .
^ "CNN Films and HBO Max Partner to Bring Citizen Ashe to Screens; Film is Produced by Dogwoof, Rexpix and Stick Figure Productions" . CNN . July 15, 2021. Archived from the original on July 15, 2021. Retrieved September 3, 2021 .
^ Petski, Denise (October 19, 2021). "Carole King & James Taylor Documentary From Frank Marshall Set For CNN & HBO Max" . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved October 19, 2021 .
^ Pedersen, Erik (January 13, 2022). "Alexei Navalny Documentary Set From CNN Films & HBO Max" . Deadline Hollywood .
^ Lang, Brent (January 26, 2022). " 'RBG' Filmmakers Betsy West and Julie Cohen to Direct Gabby Giffords Documentary" . Variety . Retrieved April 22, 2022 .
^ Carey, Matthew (February 3, 2023). " 'Glitch: The Rise And Fall Of HQ Trivia' First Look: CNN Films Doc Presses Play On Wildly Popular Game App That Exploded Then Imploded" . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved February 3, 2023 .
^ " 'CNN Films, HBO Max Commission LITTLE RICHARD: I AM EVERYTHING (w.t.) Produced By Bungalow Media + Entertainment" . CNN . Archived from the original on May 27, 2022.
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