Jerusalem: sacred to half the people on earth; fought over more than any other place in history; conquered and destroyed, rebuilt and reinvented repeatedly over 5,000 years. Now, for the first-time ever, a new 3D/2D giant screen film adventure immerses audiences in a spectacular cinematic journey-soaring high above the Holy Land and plunging deep into the vibrant Old City-so they can experience as never before the iconic sites cherished by billions. JERUSALEM is a breathtaking new film that explores on a grand scale the intersection of science, history and religion in this ancient, enigmatic place. The original production from Cosmic Picture and Arcane Pictures and distributed by National Geographic Entertainment will premiere in giant-screen, Imax and digital 3-D cinemas in the USA and worldwide beginning today, September 20, 2013.
Narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch ("Star Trek into the Darkness," PBS's "Sherlock"),
JERUSALEM gives audiences a rare glimpse of the storied city, as well as exclusive access to iconic holy sites-including the Western Wall, the Dome of the Rock, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Jordan River, the Sea of Galilee, and the mountain fortress of Masada-and to little-known parts of the region. The 43-minute large format film was executive produced by the late Jake Eberts, legendary producer of movies such as "Gandhi," "Chariots of Fire," and "Dances with Wolves"; produced by Taran Davies, George Duffield and Daniel Ferguson; and written and directed by Daniel Ferguson. Large format industry veteran Reed Smoot, ASC, is Director of Photography.
Special access is one of the unique aspects of the film. Filmmakers were granted permission to capture aerial images over the Old City of Jerusalem, and throughout the Holy Land. A strict no-fly zone has existed over the region for many years, restricting low-altitude filming. Once secured, the filmmakers launched a major campaign in both Hebrew and Arabic to notify the public weeks before filming began.
"'JERUSALEM embodies National Geographic's commitment to tell visually compelling stories that foster greater understanding and appreciation of world cultures, history, science and geography," said Lisa Truitt, president of National Geographic Entertainment. "With this extraordinary film's immersive experience, audiences will feel as if they are really walking the streets of this beloved and iconic place."
"Through the unrivaled beauty, visceral nature and incredible technology of giant screen cameras, we were able to compose the images and move the camera in a way that makes you feel as if you are experiencing Jerusalem first-hand," said Daniel Ferguson, Writer/Director. "We were thrilled with the opportunity to provide audiences with the story of the Old City on this grand scale, and offer unique perspectives, aerials and access to this part of the world in a way you could never get in any other format."
JERUSALEM presents the story from many perspectives-interviewing a prominent archaeologist and following real-life inhabitants of the ancient city to explore the enduring appeal of this unique crossroads of civilization.
With thousands of archaeological sites, Jerusalem is one of the most excavated cities on the planet, with so much more waiting to be discovered. Since 2010, the JERUSALEM production team has followed several of the most impressive excavations in and around Jerusalem, documenting their progress as well as the tools used to uncover and understand the past. The film features renowned archaeologist and religious studies professor Dr. Jodi Magness of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who explains the many layers that chronicle this important crossroads of civilizations. In the film, Dr. Magness leads a group of students through an ancient water tunnel beneath the biblical-era city of Jerusalem, which conveyed water from the Gihon Spring outside the city walls to the residents of the city in the event of a siege by an invading army. She also gives audiences a tour of excavations around the Western Wall, marveling at one of the greatest feats of engineering in the ancient world.
Audiences will also meet three teenagers who call Jerusalem home-Farah Ammouri, Revital Zacharie, and Nadia Tadros-from each of the three major world religions that share the Old City. From the Damascus Gate and the Dome of the Rock, to the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the girls each reveal the Holy City from their own perspective. For those of the Jewish faith, Jerusalem represents their homeland. Every synagogue in the world faces Jerusalem, and three times a day, Jews pray towards the temples that once stood here above "the Kotel" or Western Wall. They believe prayers pass through the Kotel to God. For Christians, Jerusalem is the place where Jesus was arrested and sentenced to death nearby in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Via Dolorosa, or 'Way of Sorrows,' is said to be the path Jesus took on his way to crucifixion. For Muslims, Jerusalem is the city of the prophets. Muslims believe that Mohammed was taken on a miraculous journey from Mecca to Jerusalem where he ascended to Heaven on a ladder of light, which they associate with the Dome of the Rock."
Using the highest resolution cinematography in the world,
JERUSALEM captures each of these beloved places and takes audiences there as never before.
For thousands of years, people of different faiths have been drawn to this Holy City. Nowhere is this more apparent than in
JERUSALEM.
For more information on
JERUSALEM, including Theater Listings, links to the trailer, and behind-the-scenes videos, visit
http://jerusalemthemovie.com. Become a fan on Facebook at
facebook.com/jerusalemthemovie. Or follow us on Twitter @Jerusalem_Movie, #jerusalemfilm.
About Cosmic Picture
Cosmic Picture was founded by Taran Davies and Dominic Cunningham-Reid to produce dynamic giant screen and theatrical films to entertain and educate audiences about culture, faith, history, science and the environment. Cosmic Picture's last film was the award-winning
Imax feature documentary "Journey to Mecca." For more information, visit
www.cosmicpicture.com.
About Arcane Pictures
Founded by George Duffield and Meg Thomson, Arcane Pictures' mission is to make powerful and moving films. Arcane is at the forefront of combining documentaries and the power of cinema to change the world. Its most recent film, "The End of the Line," won the inaugural Puma Creative Impact prize for the documentary that achieved the largest social impact in the world. This film continues to alter overfishing policies worldwide. For more information, visit
www.arcanepictures.com.
About National Geographic Cinema Ventures/National Geographic Entertainment
National Geographic Cinema Ventures/National Geographic Entertainment is responsible for production and distribution of giant screen, 3-D and specialty films. Over the last decade, NGCV/NGE has produced or released a number of successful films, including Oscar-nominated documentaries "Restrepo" and "The Story of the Weeping Camel"; giant-screen award-winning films "Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure," "U2 3D," "Mysteries of Egypt" and "Forces of Nature"; and feature-length films "The Last Lions" and "Life in a Day." Lisa Truitt is president of NGCV/NGE, and Mark Katz is president of NGCV/NGE distribution. For more information, visit
http://nationalgeographic.com/movies.
Photo Credit: JERUSALEM Facebook Page
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