EPIX Licenses Doc on Gun Violence in America from Katie Couric & Stephanie Soechtig

NEW YORK: EPIX has secured the U.S. and Canadian broadcast rights for Under the Gun, a new documentary from Katie Couric and Stephanie Soechtig that touches on America’s gun debate.

The feature-length doc debuted at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. It will now make its world TV premiere on EPIX and all EPIX platforms on May 14 at 8 p.m. Lionsgate will coordinate the release of Under the Gun in select theaters in New York and Los Angeles, as well as manage digital distribution on platforms, including electronic sell-through and transactional VOD. Lionsgate has also acquired Canadian rights.

Couric and Soechtig—the team responsible for Fed Up, which looked at the food industry and the alarming spread of childhood obesity—explores America’s gun-violence problem through the eyes of victims’ families and gun-rights advocates.

Mark S. Greenberg, the president and CEO of EPIX, said: “During this Presidential election year, we at EPIX want to contribute to the national dialogue on the major issues affecting our country today. I can think of no more pressing subject than gun violence, and I am extremely proud to bring Under the Gun to EPIX viewers. The gun debate, with its core issues of gun rights and gun violence, is one of the most polarizing taking place in our society today. In Under the Gun, Katie and Stephanie bring their dynamic talent and perspective to this complex, multi-faceted issue and present honest, unbiased and thoughtful commentary to this subject that has real life-or-death consequences.”

Couric said: “I’ve covered mass shootings and gun violence throughout my career, but following the massacre at Sandy Hook, I was confused by the disconnect between public opinion (over 90 percent of Americans supported universal background checks) and public policy. I hope this film will help people have a better understanding of how we got to this point. Now is the time for a truly informed, rational conversation about gun violence and I’m thrilled EPIX and Lionsgate are committed to making this film available to the widest audience possible so we can do just that.”

Soechtig added: “We are pleased to make EPIX the home for Under the Gun. As both filmmakers and citizens who are deeply concerned about this issue, it was important for us that our film be seen by the widest possible audience. EPIX showed a unique willingness and commitment to make Under the Gun available to the entire country—for free—by premiering it during EPIX’s nationwide free preview. Making our film available to anyone with an internet connection was something that no service or network other than EPIX was willing to do. Their belief in this cause, and the passion that they bring to it, made them the obvious choice for Katie and me.”