Showmax presents September 5: A riveting look at a pivotal moment in news history

Get ready to witness a piece of history that forever changed the way we consume news.

Showmax is proud to announce the streaming premiere of September 5, a gripping documentary that has earned a remarkable list of accolades, including nominations for Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars and Critics Choice Awards, and Best Motion Picture - Drama at the Golden Globes.

The film, which began streaming on Showmax this week, will also be available on M-Net Movies 1 (DStv Channel 104) on Friday, 12 September at 8 PM (today).

Based on the tragic real-life events of the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics, September 5 thrusts viewers into the high-pressure world of the American sports broadcasting team.

What began as a routine day of sports reporting quickly morphs into an unprecedented live news event as a terrorist group takes Israeli athletes hostage.

Through the eyes of a young, ambitious producer, Geoff (John Magaro), and his mentor, the legendary TV executive Roone Arledge (Emmy nominee Peter Sarsgaard), the film provides an intimate and suspenseful look at the critical decisions made against an impossible ticking clock.

Hailed by critics with a glowing 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film is praised for its ability to capture the "compromises, dedication, and human fallibility of the newsroom."

Director Tim Fehlbaum explains that his film is not a historical account of the attack itself, but rather an exploration of the unprecedented situation the media faced that day.

Fehlbaum was fascinated by how a team of sports reporters, trained to tell the stories of athletes, suddenly became responsible for 22 hours of live coverage on a geopolitical tragedy.

His team decided to narrate the film "purely from this angle, from the viewpoint of the coverage," keeping the audience inside the tense TV studio as the cameras became the "only eyes cast on the tragic events unfolding."

The film’s compelling narrative is built on extensive research, including firsthand accounts from the actual journalists on the ground in Munich.

The filmmakers were inspired by Kevin Macdonald's documentary One Day in September and Paul Greengrass's film United 93, aiming to tell a story with a similar sense of documentary precision and real-time urgency.

This led them to interview the real Geoffrey Mason, who served as a coordinating producer for ABC in 1972. Mason’s vivid and precise recollections of his 22 hours were the decisive factor in shaping the film’s central plot.

The production team also gained unprecedented access to ABC's original broadcast tapes, allowing them to blend meticulously directed scenes with genuine, historical footage.

This visual strategy gives the film a chilling sense of authenticity as the characters react to the same real-time events that captivated a global audience.

The project’s authenticity and powerful narrative also attracted the attention of Hollywood heavyweights. Filmmaker Tim Fehlbaum's project caught the eye of Sean Penn’s production company, Projected Picture Works, and a powerful collaboration was born.

Sean Penn, who was just 12 years old in 1972, was captivated by the script.

"I remember gathering with my family around the television while all of this was playing out," he shares. "The script provoked memories of that tension and heartbreak... it literally put us in the room with those on-site covering it.”

The partnership with Projected Picture Works elevated the film to an international production, attracting an exceptional cast that includes John Magaro (Past Lives), Peter Sarsgaard (Dopesick), Leonie Benesch, and Ben Chaplin.

The combined talent and vision of this team ensured that September 5 is not merely a historical account but a human story that resonates deeply, serving as a powerful and relevant reminder of how a single day transformed the media landscape forever.

As the world becomes increasingly reliant on a 24/7 news cycle, this film raises crucial questions about the responsibilities of crisis reporting and the ethical dilemmas that are just as relevant today as they were then.

Watch the trailer, which has over a million views