National Geographic Cinema Ventures to Distribute ‘Jerusalem’ for Release to Giant Screens and Digital 3-D Cinemas Worldwide

WASHINGTON — National Geographic Cinema Ventures (NGCV) announced today that it will distribute the giant screen film “Jerusalem,” which takes audiences on an eye-opening tour of one of the world’s oldest and most enigmatic cities. Filmed for the first time in IMAX and 3-D, “Jerusalem” will be available in 3-D and 2-D, 15/70 film and digital formats when it is released worldwide on Sept. 20, 2013. “Jerusalem” was executive produced by the late Jake Eberts, legendary financier of movies such as “Gandhi,” “Chariots of Fire” and “Dances with Wolves”; produced by Taran Davies, George Duffield and Daniel Ferguson; and directed by Daniel Ferguson. The film tells the stories of real-life inhabitants of the ancient city and of prominent archaeologists exploring the enduring appeal of this unique crossroads of civilization.

“Jerusalem,” an original production from Cosmic Picture and Arcane Pictures, aims to increase public awareness and appreciation for the city’s historical, spiritual, cultural and artistic contributions to the world. After years of working with various government ministries and religious and community leaders, the filmmakers were granted the exclusive permits necessary to capture aerial shots above the Old City of Jerusalem, and throughout the Holy Land. As a result, audiences are given a rare bird’s-eye view of the storied city as well as unprecedented access to iconic holy sites and little-known parts of the After years of working with various government ministries, and religious and community leaders, the filmmakers were granted the exclusive permits necessary to capture aerial shots above the Old City of Jerusalem. As a result, audiences are given a rare bird’s-eye view of the storied city as well as exclusive access to iconic holy sites and little-known parts of the region in one powerful, 45-minute giant screen film experience. Aside from the breathtaking scenery, “Jerusalem” also explores some of the surprising intersections between Judaism, Christianity and Islam, which come together in this sacred city.

“National Geographic is the perfect home for ‘Jerusalem’ for a whole host of reasons, not the least of which is the city’s importance both culturally and geographically,” said Mark Katz, president of NGCV Distribution. “‘Jerusalem’ is also visually stunning, with never-before-seen aspects of the city that, on the giant screen and in 3-D, will leave audiences in awe of both the beauty of its iconic landmarks and the technical mastery it took to make the film. We are proud to be the distributors of ‘Jerusalem,’ which will be a strong addition to our award-winning 3-D library.”

“Making ‘Jerusalem’ is the dream of a lifetime,” said producers Davies, Duffield and Ferguson. “We hope that it will thrill and surprise audiences around the world. We think experiencing this remarkable city in IMAX and 3-D will bring people closer than ever before to understanding this amazing part of the world. We are honored that National Geographic will distribute ‘Jerusalem.’ It’s a perfect fit.”


About National Geographic Cinema Ventures

National Geographic Cinema Ventures is responsible for production and distribution of giant screen, 3-D and specialty films. Over the last decade, NGCV 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, and Mark Katz is president of NGCV distribution. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com/movies.



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 achieves the largest social impact in the world. It continues to alter overfishing policies worldwide. For more information, visit www.arcanepictures.com.