• Four-part series airs throughout November, chronicling war
photographers in conflict zones around the world
(
October 24, 2012 - Toronto, Canada) -
HBO Canada, a multiplex channel of
Astral's The Movie Network (Eastern Canada) and Corus Entertainment's Movie Central (Western Canada) immerses subscribers in conflict zones around the world with Witness, a four-part documentary series that follows a new generation of young combat photographers into Mexico, Brazil, South Sudan and Libya. Executive produced by writer-director Michael Mann and acclaimed commercial and documentary director David Frankham Witness debuts Monday, November 5 at 9 p.m. ET/MT on HBO Canada, day-and-date with HBO in the US.
A new instalment of Witness will premiere every Monday in November (all premieres are day-and date with HBO in the US):
Witness: Juarez
Premieres Monday, November 5 at 9 p.m. ET/MT
Pro journalist Eros Hoagland has worked in conflict zones in Iraq, Afghanistan and Haiti, but his focus, here, is Juarez, Mexico, the murder capital of the world. Drug violence in Juarez has left 19,000 dead, and the drugs are still flowing north. Eros began work as a photojournalist in 1993, covering the aftermath of El Salvador's civil war. He has since worked in Iraq, Haiti, Afghanistan and Columbia. His father, Newsweek photographer John Hoagland, was killed in El Salvador when Eros was a boy. In a grim locale a man is shot in his car and dies. It is Hoagland's capture of the incongruity of the quietness of death and the waiting of the police that conveys the absurdity of accident and the deepest of feelings. Eros' search is always for the emotional narrative. Directed by David Frankham and produced by Ike Martin, Alison Kunzman and Youree Henley.
Witness: Libya
Premieres Monday, November 12 at 9 p.m. ET/MT
Michael Christopher Brown has been to Libya five times during the conflicts that brought down Gaddafi's rule. Now, the revolution is over, but the chaos has only begun and the current situation in Libya is even more complicated. On an earlier trip, in April 2011, Brown was in Misrata with veteran photojournalists Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros. Then a mortar round struck nearby, Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros were killed, and Brown was wounded. In Witness: Libya, Brown is in the extreme moments of present-day chaos and reliving the loss of his friends and mentors. Directed by Abdallah Omeish and produced by Julie Herrin and Josiah Hooper.
Witness: South Sudan
Premieres Monday, November 19 at 9 p.m. ET/MT
In South Sudan, thousands have been killed, abducted or displaced by Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army. French photojournalist Veronique de Viguerie travels with the Arrow Boys, an unpaid militia of farmers who took up arms to protect their families from the LRA. For the last two decades, Joseph Kony has led a campaign of unfathomable brutality in an attempt to impose his command as the law of the land. The pregnant de Viguerie treks through wilderness with the Arrow Boys, as well as with the Ugandan Army. Directed by David Frankham and produced by Julie Herrin and Josiah Hooper.
Witness: Rio
Premieres Monday, November 26 at 9 p.m. ET/MT
Though Rio de Janeiro will host the Summer Olympics in 2016, the city currently remains crippled by a war raging between police and powerful drug gangs. Over 2,000 Brazilian military have taken to the streets in a largest offensive in decades. They are taking on the Red Command and Amigos de Amigos, two powerful gangs, in an attempt to regain control of the city's hilltop favelas before the world's eyes focus on Brazil as it hosts the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics. The powerful drug gangs have fought back with a series of urban terror attacks on cars, buses and police stations. Several journalists have been murdered. Photographer Eros Hoagland is one of only a few willing to venture into the dangerous favelas like Mangueira, which overlooks the Olympic stadium. Directed by David Frankham and produced by Julie Herrin and Josiah Hooper.
In Eastern Canada, each episode of Witness will be available in High Definition and On Demand, and on HBO Canada OnLine with Bell TV Online, Rogers Anyplace TV and Videotron's Illico Web. In Western Canada, each episode will be available in High Definition and On Demand, and online with participating broadcasters.
HBO Canada is a multiplex channel offered by
Astral's The Movie Network (Eastern Canada) and Corus Entertainment's Movie Central (Western Canada). HBO Canada brings Canadians the current slate of signature dramatic programs for which HBO is known, together with new and never-before-seen programming including comedy series, live specials, sporting events, behind-the-scenes content and titles from HBO's extensive library - all in an uncut and commercial-free environment. HBO Canada is offered in high definition on HBO Canada HD and programming is accessible on demand and online where available by service provider. For more information, please visit
www.hbocanada.com.
The Movie Network is a member of the
Astral family.
Astral Media Inc. (TSX : ACM.A/ACM.B) is one of Canada's largest media companies. It operates several of the country's most popular pay and specialty television, radio, out-of-home advertising and interactive media properties. Astral plays a central role in community life across the country by offering diverse, rich and vibrant programming that meets the tastes and needs of consumers and advertisers. To learn more about Astral, visit
astral.com.
Movie Central is owned by Corus Entertainment Inc. (CJR.B), a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in specialty television and radio with additional assets in pay television, television broadcasting, children's book publishing and children's animation. Experience Corus on the web at
www.corusent.com.
For access to The Movie Network's media room or Movie Central's press site, please visit
http://press.astral.com or
http://mediacentre.corusent.com.
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