Saturday, January 19, 2008
Documentary of 1996 tragedy to be released this month
MIAMI (WSVN) -- A documentary about the 1996 downing of two civilian planes by the Cuban government will be released at the end of January.
"The Shootdown" will get its world premiere Friday night at the Gusman Center For the Performing Arts' Olympia Theater. Filmmakers will be on-hand for a question and answer session, and local elected officials are expected to attend.
The niece of one of the brave men that were killed by Cuban flown MiG fighters, Cristina Khuly, wrote, produced and directed the documentary, which chronicles what really happened before, after and during that fateful day of Feb. 24, 1996.
Apart from Armando Alejandro Jr., Khuly's uncle, pilots Carlos Costa, Mario de la Pena and Pablo Morales were also killed.
The group was credited with rescuing thousands of Cuban rafters risking their lives for freedom, but Fidel Castro's government classified them as terrorists.
The documentary takes the viewer on an emotional ride, using personal videos, news footage and interviews with all the major players, including Castro himself.
Khuly said she hopes this documentary will help teach and remind people of the sacrifices these four brave men made. "The greater role for the film is to make sure that we use this incident as a window so that we can see whats happening with U.S and Cuban relations and hopefully learn from that," said Khuly.
The documentary will open in limited release in theaters in Miami and other cities on Jan. 25.
"SHOOT DOWN" OPENING THEATERS
Fort Lauderdale Metro Area
Sunrise Cinemas Las Olas 15 - Fort Lauderdale
Regal Sawgrass 23 - Sunrise
Miami Metro Area
AMC Cocowalk - Miami
Cobb Dolphin 19 - Miami
Cobb Miami Lakes 17 - Miami Lakes
Cobb Hialeah 18 - Miami Lakes
Regal Palace 18 - Miami
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