Discovery Films Strikes Deal for Apollo Missions Documentary IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON

Discovery Films Strikes Deal for Apollo Missions Documentary IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON

Highly Anticipated Film Will Have Its World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival

PARK CITY, Utah, Jan. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Discovery Communications, Inc. (DCI) and its Discovery Films unit have acquired rights to DOX Productions' and Passion Films' IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON. Discovery Films, the theatrical documentary unit of DCI, will have an equity interest in North American theatrical distribution, branding rights and exclusive North American television rights to the film. The announcement was made prior to the film's world premiere as part of the Sundance Film Festival's World Cinema Competition on Friday, January 19.

"IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON captures a pivotal time in American history that touched and inspired the world," said Billy Campbell, president, Discovery Networks, U.S. "Incorporating drama, humor and the determination of the human spirit, IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON is storytelling at its finest and a perfect addition to Discovery Films portfolio of groundbreaking productions."

Between 1968 and 1972, the world watched in awe each time an American spacecraft voyaged to the Moon. Only 12 American men walked upon its surface and they remain the only human beings to have stood on another world. Now for the first, and very possibly the last, time IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON brings together surviving crew members from the Apollo missions to tell their stories in their own words.

IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON interweaves visually stunning archive material from the original NASA film footage, much of it never before seen, with riveting first-hand testimony. Directed by award-winning filmmaker David Sington, IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON is an intimate epic, which vividly communicates the daring and the danger, the pride and the passion of this extraordinary era in American history.

"All of us at DOX Productions feel immensely privileged to have spent time with the Apollo astronauts during the making of this film. They are true pioneers and genuine American heroes," said Sington.

Beautifully shot in high definition, the film includes interviews with the astronauts including Jim Lovell (Apollo 8 and 13), Dave Scott (Apollo 9 and 15), John Young (Apollo 10 and 16), Gene Cernan (Apollo 10 and 17), Mike Collins (Apollo 11), Buzz Aldrin (Apollo 11), Alan Bean (Apollo 12), Edgar Mitchell (Apollo 14), Charlie Duke (Apollo 16) and Harrison Schmitt (Apollo 17). The astronauts emerge as eloquent, witty, emotional and very human.

IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON features exclusive NASA film footage including astonishing space shots re-mastered from the original film rolls to reveal the Apollo program with a visual clarity and impact it has never had before. The mute 16mm rolls shot in Mission Control have been painstakingly lip-synced with the 16-track audio recordings of the mission controllers' voice loop to re-unite the pictures and sound of many historic moments for the first time, lending a striking immediacy to many dramatic scenes.

Discovery Films' IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON is produced by DOX Productions in association with Passion Pictures. The film's producer is Duncan Copp with co-producer Chris Riley and executive producers Simon Andreae, John Battsek and Julie Goldman. Editor is David Fairhead with original music by Philip Sheppard. The agreement was negotiated by CAA, Simon Andreae and Submarine on behalf of the filmmakers.

Following its theatrical engagement, IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON will have its television premiere on Discovery Channel and Discovery HD Theater.

Founded by David Sington in 1999, London-based DOX Productions Ltd. has produced award-winning documentary films for 30 different broadcasters in 22 countries. (http://www.tvdox.com/)

Discovery Films is the theatrical documentary unit of Discovery Communications, Inc., the leading global real-world media company. Discovery has grown from its core property, the Discovery Channel, first launched in the United States in 1985, to current global operations in 170 countries and territories with nearly 1.4 billion cumulative subscribers. DCI's ownership consists of four shareholders: Discovery Holding Company (NASDAQ:DISCA)(NASDAQ:DISCB), Cox Communications, Inc., Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, the Company's Founder and Chairman.

IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON Screening Schedule
Friday, January 19, 7:00 pm -- Holiday Village IV, Park City
Saturday, January 20, 9:15 am -- Holiday Village Cinema III, Park City
Saturday, January 20, 6:30 pm -- Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, SLC
Sunday, January 21, 12:15 pm -- Holiday Village Cinema III, Park City

INDUSTRY SCREENING
Monday, January 22, 11:30 am -- The Yarrow, Park City

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Discovery Communications, Inc.

CONTACT: Bryan Hughes of Discovery Communications, Inc.,
+1-240-338-5337, Bryan_Hughes@discovery.com; or BeBe Lerner of I-DPR, Cell:
+1-310-801-5059, for Discovery Communications, Inc.

Web site: http://www.discovery.com/
http://www.tvdox.com/

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