September 5

September 5 unveils the decisive moment that forever changed media coverage and continues to impact live news today. Set during the 1972 Munich Olympics, the film follows an American Sports broadcasting team that quickly adapted from sports reporting to live coverage of the Israeli athletes taken hostage. Through this lens, September 5 provides a powerful new perspective on the live broadcast seen globally by an estimated one billion people at the time. At the heart of the story is Geoff, a young and ambitious producer striving to prove himself to his boss, the legendary TV executive Roone Arledge. Together with Marianne, a German interpreter, Geoff unexpectedly takes the helm of the live coverage. As narratives shift, time ticks away, and conflicting rumors spread, with the hostages’ lives hanging in the balance, Geoff grapples with tough decisions while confronting his own moral compass. How do you cover a situation like this if what the perpetrators want is the spotlight you give?

What drew me to September 5 was the special angle from which the story is told. We wanted to shed light on one aspect of this tragic day during the 1972 Munich Olympics: the role of the media. By focusing on the broadcaster’s perspective, we are confronted with the moral, ethical, professional, and ultimately psychological dilemmas of journalists: Can we share information before it is confirmed? Can a live broadcast include acts of violence? What is the role of media and journalism, and what is the line between news and spectacle? As a part of our research, we partnered with Geoffrey Mason, a key eyewitness. Mason was an integral member of the control room team that pivoted from reporting on sports to geopolitics during this 22- hour marathon of live broadcasting. Based on his recollections, as well as the inclusion of original footage, our aim was to tell this story of journalistic responsibilities and the power of images as authentically as possible.

PRODUCTION 1: BerghausWöbke Filmproduktion GmbH - Philipp Trauer,Thomas Wöbke
Dachauer Strasse 114
80636, Munich, Germany
Tel. 49: 89499577820
info@bw-film.com

PRODUCTION 2: Projected Picture Works - Sean Penn, John Ira Palmer, John Wildermuth
Los Angeles, United States of America
Tel. 1 4242980292
jp@projectedpictureworks.com

WORLD SALES: Republic Pictures - Jennifer Weingroff
5555 Melrose Ave
90038, Los Angeles, United States of America
Tel. 1 3239569994
jennifer.weingroff@cbs.com

PRESS OFFICE: Morgan Lylis
Sunshine Sachs
6 E. 32nd Street, 3rd Floor
10016, New York, United States of America
Tel. 1 7024939005
hale@ssmandl.com