by Thinus Ferreira
National Geographic will show the new documentary series 9/11: One Day in America across 6 episodes from 29 August to mark the 20th anniversary of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on America, with several other 9/11-themed documentary specials that will be broadcast on the channel during September.
9/11: One Day in America, done in collaboration with America's 9/11 Memorial & Museum, will start on National Geographic (DStv 181 / StarSat 220) from 29 August to 1 September at 21:00, with episodes shown over 4 consecutive nights. The episodes in 9/11: One Day In America will be repeated at 21:00 every Sunday in September.
From 5 to 26 September National Geographic will broadcast various 9/11-themed specials including Inside 9/11: The War Continues, Bin Laden’s Hard Drive, the 4th season episode of Seconds From Disaster entitled "9/11", 9/11: Control The Skies, 9/11: The Plane That Hit The Pentagon and the 15th season episode of Air Crash Investigation entitled "9/11: The Pentagon Attack".
Developed and executive produced by executive producers Dan Lindsay and TJ Martin, 9/11: One Day in America spans 7 hours, with the first episode of the series reaching feature documentary length.
On 30 and 31 August, 2 episodes will be shown each night, with the remaining episode airing on 1 September.
To create this docuseries, the filmmaking team sifted through 951 hours of archival footage – some never seen before – to make an immersive and emotionally charged seven-hour account of that fateful day 20 years ago.
It offers a comprehensive and intimate look at how the tragic events of that day impacted so many lives - capturing the heroic acts of selflessness and bravery of strangers saving one another at all costs and revealing the triumph of the human spirit when tested beyond belief.
Over the course of three years, filmmakers interviewed 54 people for a total of 235 hours to tell the comprehensive, chronological story of September 11 – all in the first person.
Over the course of three years, filmmakers interviewed 54 people for a total of 235 hours to tell the comprehensive, chronological story of September 11 – all in the first person.
9/11: One Day in America immerse viewers in the archive and testimony of those who experienced these events 20 years ago.
From the moment when the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and New York Police Department (NYPD) were first called onto the scene of the World Trade Center that September morning to the devastating moments of collision and the chaos that ensued, National Geographic follows the timeline of the day through archival footage and photographs captured by journalists and bystanders.
The archive includes never-before-seen moments, such as footage taken of the towers from apartments and streets nearby just after the planes hit, the triage area right in front of the towers at the very early stages following impact, and intimate rescue missions during that terrifying day.
"We all remember exactly where we were on September 11, 2001. Amidst the tragedy, chaos and sadness, what we also remember are the incredible feats of heroism, selflessness and humanity on display that day," says Courteney Monroe, president, National Geographic Content, in a statement.
"With this series, we aim to immortalise these stories and continue National Geographic's legacy of authentic, powerful storytelling that provides deeper meaning around important historical events."
Each episode of the series sheds light on the heroism prompted by the events of 9/11, as individuals who risked their lives to save those around them recount their experiences in first person.
From first responders to employees in the World Trade Center and good Samaritans watching the events unfold, they share their experiences – some for the first time.
Testimony includes that of the first FDNY chief to arrive at the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11, a firefighter who escapes the North Tower just before it collapsed, paramedics first to the scene who recall their devastating encounters of searching for life in the rubble, and bystanders who share their rescue stories after being trapped inside the towers under mountains of concrete.
In addition, we will capture parallel stories - those of individuals inside the buildings who were on the brink of death, alongside the perspectives of their rescuers for whom saving a stranger's life was all that mattered.
In the statement, Dan Lindsay and TJ Martin say "Our hope with this series was to bring to the forefront the true human experience of 9/11 in a way that would honour both the victims and the survivors of the attacks that day – a series that forgoes the geopolitical implications and instead focuses on the experience of the people that were there".
David Glover, executive producer and co-founder of 72 Films, says "With such deep access to footage and first-hand stories from those who bravely sat down with us to share their experiences, the series offers hope that through immense difficulty, we can rise above when we work together".
