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Two-time Academy Award-winner Sean Penn honors the bravery of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya while shedding light on the growing threats faced by journalists around the world. The initiative kicks off with a special screening at the Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
, on May 7, 2025 , followed by a panel discussion with cast and crew, moderated by Jim Acosta WASHINGTON , April 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rolling Pictures announces that a portion of proceeds from its upcoming political thriller Words of War will be donated to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club , underscoring the film's commitment to championing press freedom and the safety of journalists around the globe. The initiative will kick off with a special screening of Words of War at the Press Freedom Center in Washington, D.C.
, on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 , followed by a panel discussion with cast and crew, moderated by Jim Acosta . Words of War tells the story of world-renowned journalist and human rights activist Anna Politkovskaya, whose fearless reporting exposed corruption, human rights abuses, and war crimes—ultimately leading to her assassination in 2006. The film is a sobering portrayal of the dangers that journalists face in the 21st century and serves as a tribute to all with the courage to risk their lives in pursuit of truth.
"Anna Politkovskaya's story is not only about bravery—it is a call to action," said Mark Maxey , president of Rolling Pictures. "By supporting organizations like CPJ and the Press Club's Freedom Center, we hope Words of War will not only raise awareness around this important issue but also provide meaningful assistance to journalists working in high-risk environments across the globe today." Starring BAFTA-nominee Maxine Peake (The Theory of Everything, The Village), BAFTA and Academy Award®-nominee Ciarán Hinds (Belfast, Game of Thrones), and BAFTA-nominee Jason Isaacs (White Lotus, Harry Potter , Death of Stalin), the film is executive produced by two-time Academy Award® winner Sean Penn and Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-14).
The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide and defends the right of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal. The Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club is dedicated to defending press freedom and supporting those who risk their lives to report the truth by assisting detained, threatened or exiled journalists through advocacy, direct support and community. As the global climate for press freedom grows increasingly perilous, Rolling Pictures believes Words of War can be a vehicle for real-world impact—bringing attention to the crisis, sparking conversations, and contributing directly to the tools, resources and support systems that assist and protect journalists worldwide.
"Every day, journalists risk their lives to tell the truth. Words of War is a powerful reminder of their courage—and of our shared responsibility to ensure their stories are heard, their sacrifices honored, and press freedom defended worldwide," said National Press Club President Mike Balsamo . "Through the Press Freedom Center, we turn that commitment into action, protecting a free and independent press and defending the role of journalism as a cornerstone of democracy, especially in this critical moment.
" "Anna Politkovskaya, a journalist whose unflinching coverage of the Chechen-Russian conflict ultimately led to her murder, is emblematic of journalists' dedication to reporting the facts, and of the impunity that prevails in response to their killing," said CPJ Chief Global Affairs Officer Gypsy Guillén Kaiser . "At a time when attacks on the press are spiking worldwide, Anna's legacy is a reminder that threats against the press also threaten our right to be informed, and we must ensure that all journalists can report the news without fear of reprisal." Words of War will premiere in select theaters in the U.
S. on May 2 , expanding internationally this summer. To RSVP to the film screening and panel discussion at the National Press Club on Wednesday, May 7 , follow this link .
About the National Press Club and the Press Freedom Center The National Press Club, based in Washington, D.C. , is the world's leading professional organization for journalists, and a beacon for press freedom for more than a century.
Through its Press Freedom Center, the Club defends the rights of journalists worldwide and supports those who face threats, imprisonment, or exile simply for reporting the truth. From direct assistance to advocacy and public engagement, the Press Freedom Center works to ensure that a free and independent press continues to serve as a cornerstone of democracy. About the Committee to Protect Journalists The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide.
We defend the right of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal. About Rolling Pictures Rolling Pictures is a boutique motion picture company delivering development, packaging, production and editorial for feature films and television. Based in Burbank, California , Rolling Pictures produces prestige stories with top talent, such as Mayim Bialik's directorial debut, As They Made Us with two-time Oscar-winner Dustin Hoffman and Academy Award-nominee and Emmy Award-winner Candice Bergen .
The company was founded by producer Mark Maxey and musician/composer W.G. Snuffy Walden.
Other projects include Space Oddity directed by Kyra Sedgwick and starring Alexandra Shipp , Kyle Allen , Kevin Bacon and Madeline Brewer , Rare Objects directed by and starring Katie Holmes with Alan Cumming , Derek Luke and Julia Mayorga , and Up to Snuff, a documentary featuring Aaron Sorkin , Martin Sheen , Tom Arnold , Fred Savage and Marshall Herskovitz . For more information, visit rollingpictures.com .
About Good Films Collective Founded by Producer Miriam Segal, Good Films Collective is an independent, female-owned studio committed to producing high-quality, thought-provoking impactful films that entertain, resonate and empower. To date, Segal has produced a number of films including Good, starring Viggo Mortensen , The Infiltrator, starring Bryan Cranston , City of Lies, featuring Johnny Depp and Forest Whitaker , and The Postcard Killings, starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Famke Janssen . Upcoming productions include a film adaption of John Webster's Jacobean play, The Duchess of Malfi, The Man Who Stole the Sky, a comedic biopic based on the mysterious disappearance of legendary thief and hijacker, D.
B. Cooper, and The Postcard Killer. For more information, visit goodfilmscollective.
com . Press Contact: Lon Haber & Co | IPPR +1-323-620-1675 [email protected] SOURCE National Press Club.
