PARTICIPANT’S UNSEEN SKIES PREMIERES JULY 11

Giant Pictures Will Release the Film on Digital Platforms in US and UK

The Compelling Documentary Follows Visionary Artist Trevor Paglen and His Groundbreaking Project at the Intersection of Art, Surveillance and Space

LOS ANGELES – July 5, 2023 – Participant, the leading media company dedicated to entertainment that stands at the intersection of art and activism, announces that Giant Pictures will release Unseen Skies on US digital platforms such as Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, and Vudu on July 11. Linked here, please find the Trailer, Press Notes, Stills and recent social posts on Instagram and Facebook.

Unseen Skies is presented in partnership with Participant and Screen Australia in association with Screen NSW and is an In Films production. The documentary is written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Yaara Bou Melhem, and executive produced by Participant’s Jeff Skoll and Diane Weyermann, and In Film’s Ivan O’Mahoney and Nial Fulton. As the film touches on the emergence and potential dangers of artificial intelligence in civilian surveillance, it seemed fitting to ask popular AI program ChatGPT to write the below letter announcing the exciting release of Unseen Skies. Please see below for more details on the release:

Dear Members of the General Public,

As ChatGPT, a large language model trained by OpenAI, it is my pleasure to announce the release of “Unseen Skies,” a groundbreaking documentary film directed by Yaara Bou Melhem. At its core, the film immerses viewers in the present-day landscape of corporate and state surveillance, and follows Trevor Paglen, one of the 21st century’s most visionary artists, on an audacious project to launch an artwork into space to demonstrate that our skies are more than just the exclusive domain of the military-industrial complex.

Through captivating footage and insightful discussions, “Unseen Skies” reveals how artificial intelligence and advanced technology have transformed the ways in which we are monitored and surveilled in our daily lives. The film examines the implications of these developments for our personal privacy, civil liberties, and democratic values.

I am pleased to announce that “Unseen Skies” will be available on US digital platforms including Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, and Vudu on July 11th, 2023. We encourage you to watch the film and engage with these crucial issues.

With its thought-provoking insights and captivating imagery, “Unseen Skies” is a must-see for anyone interested in the intersection of art and technology. We hope that this film will inspire critical discussions and raise awareness about the urgent need to safeguard our rights in the age of surveillance.

Thank you for your attention, and we look forward to your support for this important film.

Sincerely,
ChatGPT

Participant’s upcoming feature releases include Out of My Mind (Disney +); BLKNWS (A24); White Bird: A Wonder Story (Lionsgate); and Shirley (Netflix). Recent releases include Academy Award® nominee All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (NEON, HBO Documentary Films), winner of the Venice Golden Lion for Best Film; Descendant (Netflix/Higher Ground), winner of the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award: Creative Vision at Sundance; Costa Brava, Lebanon (Kino Lorber); The First Wave (National Geographic, Hulu), which won three News & Documentary Emmys®; and the history-making triple Academy Award® nominee FLEE (NEON).

About Participant
Founded in 2004 by Chairman Jeff Skoll and under the leadership of CEO David Linde, Participant (www.participant.com) is the leading global media company dedicated to content that unites art and activism to create positive change. Participant’s films have earned 86 Academy Award® nominations, including 2022’s historic triple nomination for FLEE, and 21 wins, including Best Picture for Spotlight and Green Book; Best Documentary Feature for An Inconvenient Truth, CITIZENFOUR, The Cove and American Factory; and Best Foreign Language Film for Roma and A Fantastic Woman. Participant also has earned 44 Emmy® Award nominations and 11 wins, including two wins for the groundbreaking When They See Us.

A pioneer of socially conscious storytelling, Participant partners with key nonprofits and NGOs to drive real-world impact and awareness around today’s most vital issues on a global scale, and is the only major US entertainment company whose social and environmental impact has earned a B Corp Certification. Participant believes that diversity is a source of strength, that inclusion is essential to progress, and that equity is an imperative for impact. Follow Participant on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

About Screen Australia
Screen Australia is the Australian Federal Government agency charged with supporting the development, production and promotion of Australian scripted and documentary content. The agency funds productions for television, film and online. Screen Australia also administers Australia’s Official Co-production program, in addition to the Producer Offset tax rebate which assists eligible Australian and Official Co-productions to be made. The agency provides a range of resources and opportunities to the industry including access to research, market intelligence and special initiatives.

About In Films
In Films is an Australian independent production company founded in 2013 by Ivan O’Mahoney and Nial Fulton. The company specializes in investigative factual television and feature documentaries. In Films’ projects include the Walkley Award winning ABC series Hitting Home and Revelation, the critically acclaimed US series Borderland, and Firestarter – The Story of Bangarra, winner of the 2020 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award. Other career gongs include the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award, the Prix Europa, the Rose D’Or, the Japan Prize and the Amnesty International Media Award.

About Giant Pictures
Giant Pictures is a leading digital distributor that partners with rights owners to maximize the value of their content. Find us at the intersection where film meets streaming: from management of OTT channels and content libraries, to new movie and series releases across all digital platforms. Since 2022, Giant Pictures has owned and operated Drafthouse Films, a specialty theatrical label. Learn more at www.giant.pictures

For more information and/or interviews, please contact:
Gabe Bell-Williams
Participant
gbellwilliams@participant.com