National Geographic Documentary Films Announces Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Paris to Pittsburgh
RadicalMedia Produces Film in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies
Washington, D.C. and New York, N.Y. – National Geographic Documentary Films announced today that the company will distribute Bloomberg Philanthropies’ second film, Paris to Pittsburgh premiering on Wednesday, December 12 at 9pm ET/PT in the U.S. and will air globally in 172 countries and 43 languages. Paris to Pittsburgh brings to life the impassioned efforts of individuals who are battling the most severe threats of climate change in their own backyards. Set against the national debate over the United States’ energy future — and the Trump administration’s explosive decision to exit the Paris Climate Agreement — the film captures what’s at stake for communities around the country and the inspiring ways Americans are responding. To view the trailer, visit ParistoPittsburgh.com.
Paris to Pittsburgh is produced by the Academy Award and Emmy-winning production company RadicalMedia, in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies. The film is directed by Emmy Award winner Sidney Beaumont and Emmy-nominated filmmaker Michael Bonfiglio. Beaumont also produced the film. Executive Producers are Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Joe Berlinger, Jon Kamen and Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Katherine Oliver. Co-producers are Lindsay Firestone and Katie Dunn. Antha Williams of the Bloomberg Philanthropies environment program served as a consulting producer. Bloomberg Philanthropies and RadicalMedia previously collaborated on the critically acclaimed documentary, From the Ashes, about the legacy and future of the coal industry in the U.S. Executive Producer for National Geographic is Matt Renner.
Spotlighting the cities, states, businesses and citizens taking action, Paris to Pittsburgh explores the very real social and economic impacts of climate change-fueled disasters, from America’s heartland to the nation’s coastlines. The film features voices from local leaders as well as everyday Americans presenting the stories behind climate-related recovery and resiliency, as well as tireless innovative efforts to reduce carbon emissions, including boomtowns formerly reliant on coal such as Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh, led by Mayor Bill Peduto, who stood up to defy President Trump when he announced the U.S.’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, is now a city committed to energy efficiency and is one of the many examples of bold economic and climate leadership in the film. Other locations featured in the film include Puerto Rico, California, Iowa, Florida and New Jersey.
“Paris to Pittsburgh reveals the inspiring steps communities across the country are taking to confront the severe health and economic threats posed by climate change,” said Geoff Daniels, the head of unscripted programming for National Geographic. “From innovative ways to improve our food supply chain through Fleet Farming, parking lots shaded by solar paneled roofs to passionate college students making an impact in sustainable energy jobs, this documentary provides a hopeful roadmap for the future.”
“Americans are determined to uphold our end of the Paris Climate Agreement, with or without Washington’s help,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, environmentalist, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and Mayor of New York City 2002-2013. “Paris to Pittsburgh shows how disconnected Washington is from the American people on climate change, and how communities across the country are taking action to confront the severe health and economic threats it poses.”
Immediately following Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, Bloomberg announced a pledge to help fill the void. As the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Climate Action and co-chair of America’s Pledge, Bloomberg has partnered with California Governor Jerry Brown to keep the United States in the Paris Agreement by commissioning the necessary reports on U.S. emissions to the United Nations.
Further, Bloomberg Philanthropies has committed more than $260 million to move the nation towards clean energy and tackle climate change. The Bloomberg-backed Beyond Coal initiative, which aims to secure the retirement of half the nation’s coal fleet, has already led to the closure or phasing out of 270 coal-fired power plants and helped to prevent more than 5,550 premature deaths per year. Additionally, Bloomberg Philanthropies supports sustainability in cities around the globe through C40, a network of more than 90 global megacities, and other programs including the American Cities Climate Challenge, a $70 million accelerator program to provide 20 cities with powerful new resources to help them meet – or beat – their near-term carbon pollution goals.
Follow for updates on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @ParisPittsburgh or visit ParistoPittsburgh.com and visit National Geographic Education for educational resources focusing on coal and other sources of energy.
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About National Geographic Partners LLC:
National Geographic Partners LLC (NGP), a joint venture between National Geographic and 21st Century Fox, is committed to bringing the world premium science, adventure and exploration content across an unrivaled portfolio of media assets. NGP combines the global National Geographic television channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO, Nat Geo PEOPLE) with National Geographic’s media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children’s media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, licensing and e-commerce businesses. Furthering knowledge and understanding of our world has been the core purpose of National Geographic for 129 years, and now we are committed to going deeper, pushing boundaries, going further for our consumers and reaching over 730 million people around the world in 171 countries and 45 languages every month as we do it. NGP returns 27 percent of our proceeds to the nonprofit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education. For more information visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.
About Bloomberg Philanthropies:
Bloomberg Philanthropies works in 480 cities in more than 120 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s charitable activities, including his foundation and his personal giving. In 2017, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $702 million. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter @BloombergDotOrg.
About RadicalMedia:
RadicalMedia is an Oscar-, Emmy-, Peabody- and Grammy Award-winning studio, with recent credits that include “Bobby Kennedy for President” and “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman” for Netflix; “The Fourth Estate” for Showtime; “MARS” and the Emmy-nominated, “Year Million” for National Geographic; “Stan Against Evil” for IFC; “Hamilton’s America” for PBS’ Great Performances; Netflix’s “Abstract: The Art of Design,”; and “May It Last: A Portrait of the Avett Brothers,” which won the Audience Award: 24 Beats Per Second at SXSW 2017 and was acquired by HBO. RadicalMedia’s vast body of work also includes the Oscar-winning documentary “The Fog of War”; Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning “What Happened, Miss Simone?” for Netflix; “Keith Richards: Under the Influence” for Netflix; and Epix’s docuseries “America Divided;” as well as numerous Joe Berlinger directed projects, including the Oscar-and Emmy-nominated “Paradise Lost: Purgatory” for HBO; “Metallica: Some Kind of Monster”; “Under African Skies” for A&E; “Whitey: The US vs. James J. Bulger” for CNN and the 4-part docuseries “Killing Richard Glossip,” debuting this month on Investigation Discovery. See more at RadicalMedia.com and find us and find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
National Geographic:
Kathryn Kennedy, 212-656-0714, kathryn.kennedy@natgeo.com
Bloomberg Philanthropies:
Rebecca Carriero, 212-205-0182, rebeccac@bloomberg.org