Alex Gibney’s Highly-Anticipated Documentary Focuses on Sports Scapegoats Bartman and Buckner

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With five outs remaining in Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS, a foul ball descended from the Chicago sky that possibly changed the course of that year’s post-season for the Cubs, and forever changed the life of Cub’s fan Steve Bartman.  As part of a new series of ESPN Films presented by Buick, Catching Hell premieres on Tuesday, Sept. 27, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN HD.

Oscar-winning documentarian Alex Gibney tells the story of that infamous foul ball play from multiple points of view within the stadium.  He also relates the scapegoat compulsion to his own frustration as a Red Sox fan when, 25 years ago, Bill Buckner was similarly singled out for letting a fateful ground ball go through his legs in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. Gibney engages Buckner and his story as a means of exploring what has kept Bartman silent despite highly lucrative offers to tell his side of the story.  Catching Hell was originally scheduled as part of the 30 for 30 series but once Gibney started uncovering the layers of the story, a decision was made to increase the length of the film, pushing back its premiere date.

ESPN Films, creators of the Emmy-nominated and Peabody award-winning 30 for 30 film series, will air a new film each Tuesday night from September 27 through November 8.  The films include Catching Hell, Renée, The Dotted Line, Charismatic, The Real Rocky, Unguarded and Roll Tide/War Eagle.

The new slate will air as follows:

• Tuesday, Sept. 27, 8 p.m. – Catching Hell (Alex Gibney/Gary Cohen) *120 minutes
• Tuesday, Oct. 4, 8 p.m. –  Renée (Eric Drath) *90 minutes
• Tuesday, Oct. 11, 8 pm. – The Dotted Line (Morgan Spurlock/Jeremy Chilnick)
• Tuesday, Oct. 18, 8 p.m. – Charismatic (Steve Michaels/Jonathan Koch)
• Tuesday, Oct. 25, 8 p.m. – The Real Rocky (Jeff Feuerzeig/Mike Tollin)
• Tuesday, Nov. 1, 8 p.m. – Unguarded (Jonathan Hock/Philip Aromando) *90 minutes
• Tuesday, Nov. 8, 8 p.m. – Roll Tide/War Eagle (Martin Khodabakhshian/Joe Tessitore) 

ESPN Films’ new slate of documentaries will be available on iTunes and Amazon.com the day after each film’s broadcast premiere and will be available on DVD shortly thereafter at major retailers. A compilation of films from the series will be available in a collectible DVD Gift Set this holiday season. Sports film fans can follow ESPN Films on Twitter at @ESPN_Films.

About ESPN Films

Created in March 2008, ESPN Films produces high-quality films showcasing compelling sports stories. In October 2009, ESPN Films launched the Peabody Award-winning and Emmy-nominated 30 for 30 film series.  Inspired by ESPN’s 30th Anniversary, the films that made up the series were a thoughtful and innovative reflection on the past three decades told through the lens of diverse and interesting sports fans and social commentators. Additional projects from ESPN Films include, among others, the critically acclaimed and Television Academy Honor-winning 16^th Man, Cannes Film Festival official selection The Two Escobars, and the Peabody Award-winning Black Magic. Catching Hell, from Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney, and Renée, from filmmaker Eric Drath, are featured in the latest ESPN Films series airing this fall.  Press Kit

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Media Contacts:

Jay Jay Nesheim – ESPN – 212-448-4841 – [email protected]

Jen Cingari – ESPN – 212-515-1084 – [email protected]