History Films, Radius-TWC and Participant Media Back Errol Morris' 'THE UNKNOWN KNOWN'

By: Sep. 10, 2012
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HISTORY FILMS(TM), RADiUS-TWC and PARTICIPANT MEDIA in association with moxie pictures will team up for THE UNKNOWN KNOWN: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF DONALD RUMSFELD, a feature documentary directed by Academy Award winner Errol Morris (The Fog of War; A Brief History of Time; The Thin Blue Line). The project was announced today by Nancy Dubuc, President and General Manager of HISTORY(R); Tom Quinn and Jason Janego, Co-Presidents of RADiUS-TWC; and Jim Berk, Chief Executive Officer of PARTICIPANT MEDIA. The film will be released theatrically next year in North America by RADiUS -TWC, The Weinstein Company's multi-platform label.

Additional companies boarding the project at this early stage also include: Netflix (US) and HANWAY FILMS for international sales.

"HISTORY FILMS is honored to be working with RADiUS-TWC, PARTICIPANT MEDIA and Errol Morris, a world-class filmmaker. The pairing of Errol and Donald Rumsfeld is bound to be a must-see cinematic event," said Ms. Dubuc.

According to Quinn and Janego, "RADiUS is elated to be working with the extraordinary Errol Morris on this rare and provocative look into one of the world's most polarizing and charismatic political figures. Having worked on several films with the accomplished folks at the HISTORY channel and Participant Media, we could not think of a better team to release what is sure to be a strong contender come Awards' season."

Berk commented, "We are excited to be collaborating once again with Errol Morris, one of cinema's preeminent documentarians, and with our good friends at HISTORY and RADiUS-TWC, on what we're certain will be a fascinating and much discussed film."

According to Errol Morris: "THE UNKNOWN KNOWN: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF DONALD RUMSFELD is the story of a remarkable man whose career spans nearly one third of our nation's history. I am delighted to partner with The History Channel, Participant and RADiUS in this extraordinary project."

Thorsten Schumacher, Managing Director of HANWAY FILMS added "HANWAY couldn't be more proud to be representing 'THE UNKNOWN KNOWN'. Errol Morris is an iconic filmmaker and Donald Rumsfeld will make for fascinating viewing in both the old and new Europe and the rest of the world."

Drawing from extensive hours of filmed interviews and never-before-seen material from Donald Rumsfeld's private archive, Errol Morris examines Rumsfeld's extraordinary role in American history from the Watergate era to the Global War on Terror. A penetrating and often surprising portrait of a singular man, THE UNKNOWN KNOWN: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF DONALD RUMSFELD will challenge its audiences to rethink their preconceived notions of power and politics.

Errol Morris' films have won many awards, including an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, an Emmy, the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival, the Silver Bear at Berlin International Film Festival, the Golden Horse at the Taiwan International Film Festival and the Edgar from the Mystery Writers of America. His documentaries have repeatedly appeared on many ten best lists and have been honored by the National Society of Film Critics and the National Board of Review.

THE UNKNOWN KNOWN will be presented by HISTORY FILMS, RADiUS-TWC and PARTICIPANT MEDIA and produced by Moxie Films; directed by Errol Morris; producers for moxie pictures are Robert Fernandez and Amanda Branson Gill. All deals on behalf of the film were negotiated by Josh Braun for Submarine, who will also be an EP on the film, attorneys Sue Bodine of Cowan Debaets Abrahams & Sheppard, Peter Grossman of Lichter Grossman Nichols Adler & Feldman and Jeff Ivers, Chief Operation Officer of Participant Media. For HISTORY FILMS, executive producers are Nancy Dubuc, Dirk Hoogstra, Julian P. Hobbs and Molly Thompson. For PARTICIPANT MEDIA, executive producers are Jeff Skoll and Diane Weyermann.

HISTORY Films seeks to bring cinematic stories by outstanding independent filmmakers to the widest possible audience. Through HISTORY Films, the network will pursue dramatic non-fiction films about extraordinary people and those singular moments in our past, present and future that stand out forever, demonstrating that History is Made Every Day. The HISTORY Films roster currently includes: the award winning Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010) (National Critics; LA Critics; NY Critics awards),produced by Creative Differences for HISTORY Films in association with MORE 4); Magic Bus (produced by Phoenix Wiley and HISTORY FILMS); Page One (presented by Magnolia Pictures, Participant Media and HISTORY FILMS); and Countdown to Zero (2010) (a co-presentation with Participant, produced by Creative Differences for HISTORY Films in association with MORE 4).

HISTORY(R) is the leading destination for factual entertainment, including award-winning original series and specials that connect viewers with history in an informative, immersive and entertaining manner across multiple platforms. The network's all-original programming slate, including scripted event programming, features a litany of hits including American Pickers(R), American Restoration(TM), Ax Men(TM), Ice Road Truckers(R), Pawn Stars(R), Swamp People(R) and Top Shot(R) as well as epic specials such as the Emmy(R) Award-winning Gettysburg, America The Story of Us, WWII in HD and 102 Minutes That Changed America. The HISTORY website is theleading online resource for all things history, and in 2011, the United States Library of Congress selected HISTORY's Civil War 150 site for inclusion in the historic collection of Internet materials related to the American Civil War sesquicentennial. www.history.com.

RADiUS-TWC, a newly launched label within The Weinstein Company, is the first studio division dedicated to multi-platform distribution. Led by Tom Quinn and Jason Janego, RADIUS-TWC utilizes innovative strategies in both traditional and digital media in order to bring the highest quality films and other specialty entertainment to a wider audience than ever before. The label's inaugural slate includes recent acquisitions: BACHELORETTE, the raucous Sundance hit about three best girlfriends and one night of prenuptial debauchery; PUSHER, the remake of Nicolas Winding Refn's hallmark Danish trilogy, which premiered at this year's Toronto International Film Festival; BUTTER, starring Jennifer Garner and Ty Burrell; and ONLY GOD FORGIVES, the highly anticipated crime thriller reuniting filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn with his DRIVE star Ryan Gosling, and co-starring Kristin Scott Thomas.

Participant Media (participantmedia.com) is an entertainment company that focuses on documentary and non-documentary feature films, television, publishing and digital content about the real issues that shape our lives. For each of its projects, Participant creates social action and advocacy programs to transform the impact of the media experience into individual and community action. Participant's online Social Action Network is TakePart (takepart.com). Founded by Chairman Jeff Skoll in 2004, Jim Berk serves as CEO. Participant's films include THE KITE RUNNER, CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK, THE VISITOR, FOOD, INC., THE COVE, THE CRAZIES, COUNTDOWN TO ZERO, WAITIN FOR SUPERMAN, FAIR GAME, PAGE ONE: INSIDE THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE HELP, CONTAGION, LAST CALL AT THE OASIS, THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, LINCOLN AND PROMISED LAND.



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