ALPHA-LA

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Global Alliance for Preserving the History of WW II in Asia
P.O. Box 1323, San Carlos, CA 94070-7323 * http://www.global-alliance.net

Press Release
September 22, 2009

“Nanking” Won 2009 Emmy Award
in
Best Historical Programming

The Global Alliance for Preserving the History of WW II in Asia congratulates the producers, directors and members of the production team of the documentary “Nanking” for winning the 2009 Emmy award in the “Best Historical Programming” category this week.

Documentary “Nanking” was produced by former vice chairman of American Online Ted Leonsis and directed by twice-Oscar-winning veterans Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman. It was first released to show in the U.S. and Chinese theaters in major cities before it was made available for free public viewing on Internet in 2008. It has won numerous awards, including the most prestigious award for jounalists, the Peabody Award, and the Documentary Editing award at the Sundance Film Festival in 2007. In addition, “Nanking” was also nominated in two other categories for the Emmy Award in 2009.

A powerful, emotional and relevant reminder of the heartbreaking toll war takes on the innocent, Nanking tells the story of the Japanese invasion of Nanking, China, in the early days of World War II. As part of a campaign to conquer all of China, the Japanese subjected Nanking – which was then China’s capital – to months of aerial bombardment, and when the city fell, the Japanese army unleashed murder and rape on a horrifying scale. In the midst of the rampage, a small group of Westerners banded together to establish a Safety Zone where over 200,000 Chinese found refuge. Unarmed, these missionaries, university professors, doctors and businessmen – including a Nazi named John Rabe – bored witness to the events, while risking their own lives to protect civilians from slaughter.

The story is told through deeply moving interviews with Chinese survivors, chilling archival footage and photos of the events, and testimonies of former Japanese soldiers. At the heart of Nanking is a filmed stage reading of the Westerners’ letters and diaries, featuring Woody Harrelson, Mariel Hemingway and Jurgen Prochnow. Through its interweave of archival images, testimonies of survivors, and readings of first hand accounts, the film puts the viewer on the streets of Nanking and brings the forgotten past to startling life.

“Nanking” is a testament to the courage and conviction of individuals who were determined to act in the face of evil and a powerful tribute to the resilience of the Chinese people – a gripping account of light in the darkest of times.

Please contact Ignatius Y. Ding at ignatius@sbcglobal.net for further information.

Tags: film, press