HBO Announces First Half Of 2011 Documentary Lineup

HBO Documentary Films continues its commitment to groundbreaking films in the first half of 2011. From an in-depth portrait of the 40th U.S. President in Eugene Jarecki's REAGAN, to the front lines of one of the biggest operations of the Afghanistan war in Ben Anderson's THE BATTLE OF MARJAH, to the deadliest industrial disaster in New York City history in Daphne Pinkerson's TRIANGLE: REMEMBERING THE FIRE, HBO showcases works by acclaimed directors who tackle thought-provoking topics.

Upcoming HBO documentaries include (in chronological order):

A PRESIDENT TO REMEMBER: IN THE COMPANY OF JOHN F. KENNEDY (debuting Jan. 20), directed by Robert Drew and narrated by Alec Baldwin, combines footage from four previous documentaries - "Primary," "Adventures on the New Frontier," "Crisis: Behind a Presidential Commitment" and "Faces of November" - offering a front-row look at the brilliant life of an American President who strove to bring wisdom, honor and integrity to the nation's top post.

REAGAN (Feb. 7), marking what would have been his 100th birthday, is an in-depth look at the life of the 40th U.S. President. The film traces Ronald Reagan's rise from a small town in Illinois to Hollywood actor to California Governor to President, examining the legacy of his career and policies. Directed by Eugene Jarecki.

THE BATTLE FOR MARJAH (Feb. 17), an unflinching first-hand portrayal of war, chronicles Afghanistan: Operation Mushtaraq, launched by U.S. Marines in Feb. 2010 to liberate the strategically vital town of Marjah, Afghanistan. Filmmaker Ben Anderson was on the ground in Marjah capturing the harrowing conditions of combat and revealing the implications of America's new counter-insurgency strategy. Directed by Anthony Wonke, the film marks the first anniversary of the attack, which was the biggest operation since the start of the war.

TRIANGLE: REMEMBERING THE FIRE (March 21), marking the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, tells the tragic story of the disaster that killed 146 garment workers in lower Manhattan, most of them young immigrant girls. The fire galvanized public opinion and sparked the birth of the modern labor movement, which led to regulations that still affect workers today. Directed by Daphne Pinkerson.

SAVING PELICAN 895 (April), directed by Oscar(R) nominee and Peabody winner Irene Taylor Brodsky (HBO's "The Final Inch" and "Hear and Now"), tells the gripping story of the rescue of pelican "LA 895," one of the oiled bird victims of the BP Gulf oil spill, by the Fort Jackson Oiled Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Louisiana.

HBO Documentary Films' 2011 summer series debuts June 6, featuring a new special every Monday at 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT). Presentations include documentaries by Emmy(R) winners Liz Garbus, Alexandra Pelosi, and Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey.

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