KDocsFF presents You Are Here: A Come From Away Story to mark 20th anniversary of 9/11
Director Moze Mossanen’s documentary tells the story of people who were grounded in Gander, Newfoundland and those who looked after them
9/11 airline passengers Nick and Diane are featured in Moze Mossanen’s documentary You Are Here: A Come From Away Story, which is being presented virtually for free by KDocsFF.
September 11, 2001, was a day of horror and shock. For people who happened to be airplane passengers during the terror attacks against the U.S., it was also a time of confusion and displacement.
Moze Mossanen’s 2018 documentary You Are Here: A Come From Away Story begins when U.S. airspace was completely shut down immediately following the attacks and all civilian airliners within reach of the United States were ordered to land at the nearest airport.
Thirty-eight of those planes landed in Gander, a town of 9,000 in Newfoundland & Labrador. Some 6,500 passengers would soon deboard the grounded planes. The people of Gander and surrounding communities rallied, gathering everything they could to prepare for their unexpected guests, who remained under their care for five days. It’s said that every single oven in town was on, making food for those who came to be known as “Come from Aways”.
The incredible story of kindness in a time of crisis was turned into a Broadway musical called Come From Away.
You Are Here: A Come From Away Story goes beyond the stories dramatized in the musical to show how an isolated community with its own culture and character connected with the world by openly and warmly welcoming strangers.
Among the people whose stories are shared in the film are a couple who met during this time of enormous stress and fell in love, the pilot of an American Airlines Boeing 777, and a businessman who was so moved by his hosts’ generosity that he went on to create good Samaritan initiatives across the USA.
The film celebrates the generosity and compassion of Newfoundlanders and the lives of those who were affected thousands of miles away.
KDocsFF Presents You Are Here: A Come From Away Story via a virtual event with a free 24-hour viewing window beginning September 16 at 12 am on Vimeo.
On September 17 at 1 pm, KDocsFF hosts a free live panel discussion/Q&A via Zoom featuring director Moze Mossanen, whose keynote address will be released with the documentay in the 24-hour viewing window.
Panellists include Claude Elliott, former mayor of Gander; Diane and Nick Marson, two “Come From Aways” featured in the film; 9/11 literary specialist Gavin Paul; and Une île, une nation? author Valérie Vézina. Proud Newfoundlander Kelly Doyle will serve as moderator.
To reserve complimentary tickets, email youarehere@kpu.ca with your full name and email address. Ticket holders will receive the Vimeo and Zoom links closer to the date.
KDocsFF is Metro Vancouver’s premier social justice film festival, committed to community, dialogue, and activism.
For more information, see KDocsFF.
Post sponsored by KDocsFF.