JERUSALEM: A spectacular cinematic journey that explores the intersection of history, science and religion

September 24, 2013, Gatineau, Quebec — The city of Jerusalem is sacred to half the people on Earth; it has been fought over more than any other place in history, conquered and destroyed, rebuilt and re-invented repeatedly over 5,000 years. Now, for the first time ever, a new 3D giant-screen film adventure immerses audiences in a spectacular cinematic journey. Soaring high above the Holy Land and plunging deep into Jerusalem’s vibrant Old City, audiences can experience as never before the iconic sites cherished by billions. JERUSALEM will open on September 27 at the Canadian Museum of Civilization’s IMAX^® Theatre.

This 45-minute large-format film gives audiences a rare glimpse of the storied city, as well as exclusive access to iconic holy sites — including the Western Wall, the Dome of the Rock, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Jordan River, the Sea of Galilee and the mountain fortress of Masada — and to little-known parts of the region.

Special access is one of the unique aspects of JERUSALEM. Filmmakers were granted permission to capture aerial images over the Old City of Jerusalem, and throughout the Holy Land. A strict no-fly zone has existed over this region for many years, restricting low-altitude filming. Once permission was secured, the filmmakers launched a major campaign in both Hebrew and Arabic to notify the public weeks before filming began.

 “JERUSALEM embodies National Geographic’s commitment to tell visually compelling stories that foster greater understanding and appreciation of world cultures, history, science and geography,” said Lisa Truitt, president of National Geographic Entertainment. “With this extraordinary film’s immersive experience, audiences will feel as if they are really walking the streets of this beloved and iconic place.”

“Through the unrivalled beauty, visceral nature and incredible technology of giant-screen cameras, we were able to compose the images and move the camera in a way that makes you feel as if you are experiencing Jerusalem first-hand,” said Daniel Ferguson, writer/director. “We were thrilled with the opportunity to provide audiences with the story of the Old City on this grand scale, and offer unique perspectives, aerials and access to this part of the world in a way you could never get in any other format.”

JERUSALEM presents the story from many perspectives — interviewing a prominent archaeologist and following real-life inhabitants of the ancient city to explore the enduring appeal of this unique region.

With thousands of archaeological sites, Jerusalem is one of the most excavated cities on the planet, with so much more waiting to be discovered. Since 2010, the JERUSALEM production team has followed several of the most impressive excavations in and around Jerusalem, documenting their progress as well as the tools used to uncover and understand the past. The film features renowned archaeologist and religious studies professor Dr. Jodi Magness of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who explains the many layers that chronicle this important crossroads of civilizations.

Audiences also will meet three teenagers — Farah Ammouri, Revital Zacharie and Nadia Tadros — who call Jerusalem home and who each belongs to one of the three major world religions that share the Old City. From the Damascus Gate and the Dome of the Rock, to the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the girls each reveal the Holy City from their own perspective. To those of the Jewish faith, Jerusalem represents the homeland. Every synagogue in the world faces Jerusalem, and three times a day Jews pray towards the temples that once stood in the city above “the Kotel,” or Western Wall. They believe prayers pass through the Kotel to God. For Christians, Jerusalem is the place where Jesus was arrested and sentenced to death in the nearby Garden of Gethsemane. The Via Dolorosa, or “Way of Sorrows,” is said to be the path Jesus took on his way to crucifixion. For Muslims, Jerusalem is the city of the prophets. Muslims believe that Mohammed was taken on a miraculous journey from Mecca to Jerusalem where he ascended to Heaven on a ladder of light, which they associate with the Dome of the Rock.

Using the highest resolution cinematography in the world, JERUSALEM captures each of these beloved places and takes audiences there as never before.

For thousands of years, people of different faiths have been drawn to this holy city. Nowhere is this more apparent than in JERUSALEM.

For film schedules, please visit our website at www.historymuseum.ca/imax or call 819-776-7010.

Tickets are now on sale at the Museum Box Office.
Individual prices—$11 adults; $9 seniors and students (with valid ID);
$7 children 3 to 12; $35 families, plus applicable taxes.
Members of the IMAX^® Club enjoy unlimited access for one year: $35 to $45

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 Media contacts

 Stéphanie Verner
Media Relations Officer
Telephone: 819-776-7169
Email: stephanie.verner@historymuseum.ca

Patricia Lynch
Manager, Media Relations, Partnerships and Special Events
Telephone: 819-776-7167
Email: patricia.lynch@historymuseum.ca