For Immediate Release Contact: Julia Andrews, Vermont PBS [email protected] / 802.655.4891 Vermont PBS Brings Ken Burns’ and Lynn Novick’s Epic Series The Vietnam War to Broadcast and to Communities throughout Vermont Colchester, Vt. – August 14, 2017 – The Vietnam War, a new 10-part, 18-hour documentary film series co-directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, will premiere September 17 on Vermont PBS. Ten years in the making, the project is widely considered to be Burns’ most ambitious yet. The monumental look at this challenging piece of history features dozens of people at the epicenter of the country’s Vietnam experience, from veterans to journalists to protesters, along with voices from both South and North Vietnam. To increase the relevance of this already important series to the Vermont audience, Vermont PBS will be hosting screenings, each followed by a discussion led by a panel of experts on the topic. “According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, a third of Vermont’s vets served during Vietnam,” said Holly Groschner, President and CEO of Vermont PBS. “By bringing Vermont voices into the discussion around Burns’ and Novick’s film, we hope to bring this still difficult historical topic back to a community level. Together we can have a dialogue about the meaning of war, of what it means to be on a side, and the importance of healing and coming together after.” The first five episodes of The Vietnam War will air nightly from Sunday, September 17, through Thursday, September 21, and the final five episodes will air nightly from Sunday, September 24, through Thursday, September 28. Each episode will premiere at 8 pm. Also on September 17, concurrent with the broadcast premiere, the first five episodes of will be available for streaming on all station-branded PBS platforms, including PBS.org and PBS apps for iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Chromecast, and the final five episodes will be available beginning September 24. Vermont PBS 204 Ethan Allen Avenue Colchester, VT 05446 www.vermontpbs.org “Burns and Novick's primary objective is to spark a national conversation about the meaning of Vietnam- a conversation they feel we've never really had,” said Vermont resident Mike Heaney, a consultant on the film. Heaney, who has an on-screen appearance, served in the war as an infantry platoon leader, whose unit was ambushed and nearly annihilated. He has devoted much of his life to working with troubled veterans and memorializing the sacrifices of comrades. Screenings are scheduled for locations around the state, including: Vermont Historical Society, Barre, VT August 23, 6 pm To register: http://go.vermontpbs.org/Vietnam_Barre Latchis Theater, Brattleboro, VT August 24, 7 pm To register: http://go.vermontpbs.org/VietnamWar_VTPBS Paramount Theatre, Rutland, VT September 15, 7 pm To register: https://go.vermontpbs.org/VietnamFilm_VTPBS Sponsored by AARP Vermont Attendance at these screenings is limited, and registrations are accepted on a first come, first served basis. To round out the series, Vermont PBS will be broadcasting locally made films that dovetail with this complex topic and provide additional depth as part of its Made Here series: Peace Has No Borders Thursday, September 21, 9:30 pm Between 1965-1973, over 50,000 Americans made their way to Canada, refusing to participate in the Vietnam War. Forty years later, Canada had another moral choice - whether to give refuge to U.S. veterans of the Iraq War. Caught between two countries, today’s war resisters fight the law, politics, and the court of public opinion for the opportunity to remain in Canada. Directed by Deb Ellis and Denis Mueller of Burlington, VT People’s War Sunday, September 24, 9:30 pm This controversial and innovative documentary, directed by the Newsreel Collective including filmmaker John Douglas of Burlington, VT, filmed during the war and in North Vietnam and including footage from other Vietnamese sources, presents a unique view of the mobilization and participation of Vietnamese people committed to their country's fight against colonialism and foreign military aggression. The film will be accompanied by an interview with Douglas discussing the motivation of the filmmakers. # # # Vermont PBS is Vermont’s statewide public media provider and visual storyteller, with a commitment to cultural enrichment and civic engagement. More information is available at vermontpbs.org. .