The Responders: Breaking the Silence is the untold story of September 11th, 2001, both from the uncensored experience of the First Responders who risked their lives that day, as well as from those who have since responded to the call to speak the truth, whatever the cost.
Combining exclusive interviews with rarely seen archival footage, The Responders tells the harrowing—but ultimately hopeful—saga of comaraderie, survival and courage in the face of overwhelming crimes against the conscience of humanity.
If the Responders can face what was done to them, then so must we.
About the Filmmakers
LIBBY HANDROS
Producer
Producer Libby Handros began her career over twenty-five years ago at The Press and the Public Project, joining the team that produced the ground-breaking Inside Story, the first regularly scheduled examination of the American press ever to appear on television. That nationally broadcast series aired weekly on PBS for five years and won every major television journalism award.
Handros has developed and produced over one hundred hours of prime-time programming on subjects as diverse as public policy, sports, history, global affairs, education and the movies.
Handros and Kirby's film Cape Spin: An American Power Struggle—shown in theaters from Lincoln Center to The Brattle—was dubbed “Rollicking” (The Phoenix) and “Sober, lighthearted, even wacky” (Associated Press).
Their latest project is a major documentary film franchise covering the assassinations of the 1960's in a bracingly fresh historical light, Four Died Trying. With over 130 interviews and counting, it has been in the works for over ten years. The first installment is available on Amazon and other streaming platforms.
JOHN KIRBY
Director, Editor
Director John Kirby‘s feature debut was The American Ruling Class, a “dramatic-documentary-musical” starring Lewis Lapham. That film played in theaters and won prizes in festivals all over the world. It was dubbed “Astonishing” by The London Observer, “Divine madness” by The Montreal Mirror, it “K.O.’d” Studs Terkel, and was hailed by luminaries from Bill Moyers to Peter Wintonick, who called it “the most cinematically subversive film to come along this decade.”
John has directed, edited and consulted on dozens of documentaries and non-fiction series. He Co-Directed Cape Spin: An American Power Struggle, showcased at the Woodstock Film Festival and the International Documentary Film Festival of Amsterdam.
Kirby's latest project with Handros is a major documentary film franchise titled Four Died Trying, which examines the assassinations of the 1960's in a bracingly fresh historical light. Ten years in the making, with over 130 interviews and counting, the first installment is currently available on Amazon and other streamers.