‘Invisible War’ Director, CNN Films Partner for Campus Sexual Assault Documentary

‘Invisible War’ Director, CNN Films Partner for Campus Sexual Assault Documentary

Director Kirby Dick and producer Amy Ziering from Weinstein Company’s Radius division, responsible for the Oscar-nominated documentary The Invisible War, which examined rape in the military, are partnering with CNN Films for a project about sexual assault on college campuses.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the untitled feature-length documentary will highlight the personal struggles of individuals coping with sexual trauma, as they reveal their experiences to school administrators and family members. 

“The statistics are staggering. Our country has a moral obligation to address this issue. We hope our film will provide a wake-up call to our nation to better protect our students,” said Dick in a statement.

Filmmakers argue that college campuses serve as an enabling environment, because the reporting of sexual assault is often discouraged. In an announcement about the collaborative effort on Monday, CNN cited statistics from the Campus Sexual Assault Study of the National Institute of Justice, which reveal one in five women are victims of sexual assault on college campuses.

The Invisible War was a landmark film that had a major impact within the military. That said, there’s still a lot more work to be done across every aspect of our society. In conjunction with the exceptional team of Amy and Kirby, CNN, and this powerful film, we hope to draw attention and engage in real debates about this national crisis,” said Tom Quinn and Jason Janego, co-presidents of Radius.

The filmmakers believe there is a tipping point in how society views the ongoing crisis, as more professional and college athletes make national headlines over incidences involving sexual and violent crimes. 

“This type of important but sensitive material requires skilled handling by exceptional filmmakers. Kirby and Amy are the perfect team to take on this challenge, as a natural follow-up to their Academy Award-nominated and critically acclaimed film The Invisible War,” senior vp of development and acquisitions for CNN Worldwide Vinnie Malhotra stated. 

The untitled documentary is set to be released in 2015 and will be followed up by a broadcast on CNN. This film has not yet been rated. 

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