Channel 4 Documents 9/11 Phone Calls

A powerful new feature-length documentary to mark the eighth anniversary of 9/11 has been commissioned by Channel 4's Deputy Head of Documentaries, Simon Dickson.
From Darlow Smithson Productions, an IMG Media Company, 9/11: Phone Calls From The Towers (working title) features recordings of calls from people who died in the terrorist attack on New York - some broadcast for the first time - as well as interviews with their families, who have co-operated in the making of the film and provided the recordings.
The documentary will air in September 2009 as a Cutting Edge Special.
Trapped in the twin towers of the World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001, thousands of ordinary people struggled to make contact with the outside world. Many knew that time was ticking away and wanted to speak to their loved ones for a final time, while others turned to friends and relatives, as well as the emergency services, to discover what was happening and find a means of escape.
Eight years later, these recorded messages and memories of the private calls are a treasured legacy for the families left behind, the last known words of their loved ones. Dignified and full of love, they show humanity at its best and most courageous in the face of evil.
Including newly-uncovered audio recordings, a wealth of previously unseen home movies, and powerful testimony from the victims' families, 9/11: Phone Calls From The Towers tells the stories of some of the people trapped in the World Trade Centre and reveals how the recordings have helped their families to come to terms with their loss.
Simon Dickson, Channel 4's Deputy Head of Documentaries, said: "Eight years on from the attacks, this amazing film is a genuinely fresh approach to the 9/11 story, using very powerful recordings, some of which have never been heard before.
"The messages are an incredibly moving testament to the memories of the people who died in the Twin Towers and reveal the dignity, courage, humanity and love shown at the worst of times. And the victims' families, who have co-operated in the making of the film and provided most of the recordings, talk heart-breakingly about speaking to their loved ones for the final time as they watched powerless as the disaster unfolded on TV.
"The messages are, of course, a double-edged legacy - there is only a recording because someone missed the call, but as a result, the families have something concrete to turn to for comfort. They have helped some of the families to move on, while others still find the emotions incredibly raw. And the messages prompt us all to ponder whether, faced with such a terrible situation, we could act with such courage and compassion."
John Smithson, Chief Creative Director of DSP, said: "9/11 is one of the most significant historical moments of our time. This film highlights humanity at its best. The phone calls revealed for the first time in this film don't convey the panic and fear felt by millions, but the love and dignity that they held on to. Darlow Smithson feels proud to have produced a testimony to those whose lives were lost, and to bring it to a wide audience."
9/11: Phone Calls From The Tower is a Darlow Smithson Production for Channel 4. Directed by James Kent, the producer is Natalie Burke and the Executive Producer is John Smithson.
(KMcA/BMcc)