The Documentary Film about Daniel Ellsberg, from Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith

Lyn & Norman Lear, Jodie Evans and Max Palevsky, Paul and Deborah Haggis, Senator George McGovern, Susan Sarandon & Tim Robbins, Stanley & Betty Sheinbaum, Mike Stoller and Corky Hale Stoller…

together with

Susan Adelman & Claudio Llanos, Cindy Asner, Ed Asner, Marilyn & Alan Bergman,  Theresa and Blase Bonpane, Julie Christie & Duncan Campbell, Dianna Cohen & Jackson Browne, Richard and Shari Foos, Claire Greensfelder, David & Carolee Krieger, Tom Hayden & Barbara Williams, Sara Nichols, Martin & Janet Sheen, Paula Weinstein, and Jamie Wolf…

invite you to the LA premiere of “The Most Dangerous Man in America.”

Tickets and info here:
www.codepinkalert.org/ellsberg

You can join us for the film–tickets are $40/person–or you can support the film and attend a reception as well for $240/person ($400/pair.) The reception price includes a ticket to the film.

The West Coast premiere screening begins at 6:30pm.  Dan and Patricia Ellsberg and filmmakers Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith will appear for an exciting Q&A session after the screening.  The Ellsbergs and  filmmakers will continue on to the reception, which will follow immediately.

MDM opens on September 23, at the Laemmle Monica 4-plex in Santa Monica (just a few blocks from the Rand Corporation).  It will play through October 1, which is the 40th anniversary of the day Daniel Ellsberg began copying the Pentagon Papers, in 1969.  Hope to see you there!

Laemmle’s Monica 4-plex
1332 2nd Street
Santa Monica, 90401
310-394-9741

“The Most Dangerous Man in America” had a wonderful U.S. premiere and theatrical run starting on September 16th at one of NYC’s greatest independent theaters–The Film Forum.  Daniel and Patricia Ellsberg and the directors were there to present the film and answer questions for sold-out audiences on the first two opening nights.

Whistleblowers:A Conversation with Daniel Ellsberg and John Dean

The directors will also be there to present clips from the film.

New York Society for Ethical Culture
Concert Hall
2 West 64th Street (corner of Central Park West)
New York, NY

Doors open at 6:00 p.m.

We are proud to announce our world premiere on Friday, September 11th at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival!

See official page at TIFF.

Our film has been invited to the “Central Pitch Forum” at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam.

“The FORUM is Europe’s largest gathering of filmmakers, television commissioning editors and independent documentary producers.”

We’ll be in Amsterdam November 24-26 to pitch our film to a group of international broadcasters…

We’ll be screening 60 minutes of our work-in-progress on Friday, August 1st at the Woods Hole Film Festival.  Come check it out and tell your friends!

Check here for details.

A great big thank you to everyone, for making the Daniel Ellsberg birthday party/film benefit a stunning success! We are especially grateful for the generosity of our hosts: Barbra Streisand and James Brolin, Betty and Stanley Sheinbaum, Cindy Asner, Dianna Cohen, Jackson Browne, Jodie Evans, Max Palevsky, Sheri and Richard Foos, Claire Greensfelder, Lyn and Norman Lear, Jamie and Michael Lynton, Sara Nichols, Lynda and Stewart Resnick, Marge Tabankin and Earl Katz.

See a blurb about the event on Variety’s Wilshire and Washington blog.

Patricia & Daniel Ellsberg

The party was quite an event–terrific turnout, great enthusiasm for the film clip, and all-around good energy among the guests. Dan gave a very inspiring presentation, reminding us that if not for the efforts of Stanley Sheinbaum and others gathered in the room, he would be getting out of prison this year (with good behavior).

Oliver Stone and Judith Ehrlich

We were overwhelmed by the generosity of individual donors and the support from the Hollywood community.

Rick Goldsmith & Norman Lear

We were encouraged to hear from many at the benefit that this was shaping up to be a compelling and important film that must be completed sooner rather than later, given the political situation in America. In fact, Representative Maxine Waters insisted on leaving with a copy of the DVD, promising she would show it immediately to the Out of Iraq Congressional Caucus in Congress and ask Dan to address them.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (left) and guest

Our film was featured on Laura Flanders’ GRITtv, a showcase for news and arts discussion, broadcast on satellite and cable TV (including Free Speech TV, at 8 & 1 Eastern, on the Dish Network, channel 9415). GRITtv’s “Got Docs?” program airs a documentary work-in-progress every Thursday to help generate interest and funding.

We have more good news to share following our incredible response at IFP- 25 enthusiastic meetings with television and theatrical leaders (we heard it was a record number). We have been chosen in the ITVS Open Call which means major funding and a probable PBS broadcast. POV and PBS have already stated a definite interest in the film, as well as Sundance Channel and A&E We had promising meetings with Sony Pictures Classics and Magnolia Pictures regarding theatrical release. It’s all good!!

We’re moving forward towards sharing this incredible story of personal courage in the face of a dreadful war and the lies that created it.

We now face the necessity of raising several hundred thousand dollars to match the ITVS contribution. Let us know if you’ve got ideas or want to contribute. Our non-profit, tax exempt organization is KOVNO Communications. Our snail mail address is 2600 Tenth St. #628, Berkeley, CA 94710.

Thanks,

Judith Ehrlich

We’re off to the IFP (Independent Film Project) Market in NY this weekend (September 16) with the film, and thrilled at our reception to date. First we were excited we got in. Now we’re reeling at the prospect of 17 meetings with almost all of the companies, broadcast entities and individuals we had hoped would ask to talk with us about “The Most Dangerous Man in America.”

While still early in the process, The 13 minute clip is actually beginning to reflect the texture and contours of the film we’ve been envisioning. The story trajectory is evolving daily, deepening in its import and impact.

This documentary could have been written by John le Carré, but it’s true! We can’t wait to bring it to a theater and TV screen near you.

Check out the 2 minute clip here and let Rick Goldsmith and me know what you think.

Thanks,

Judith Ehrlich