The University of Nebraska-Lincoln proudly announces that "Running Towards the Fire – A War Correspondent's Story" was awarded the Grand Prize for best TV documentary at the Marina del Rey Film Festival on June 27. Gilbert and Martha Hitchcock Professor of Journalism Barney McCoy directed the film.
The documentary "Running Towards the Fire" vividly captures the pivotal roles war correspondents played during the Allies 1944 D-Day invasion of Europe and subsequent defeat of Nazi Germany and the Axis powers in 1945. The war correspondents were unsung heroes who risked their lives, informing the world with firsthand accounts of the bravery and sacrifice of the American and Allied forces who fought the Nazis.
The documentary draws extensively from the previously unpublished memoirs of Robert Reuben. The Omaha-born war correspondent parachuted into Normandy, France, hours before the D-Day invasion and was the first journalist on the ground. Reuben chronicled the Allies' liberation of France and Belgium and fierce fighting in Germany that forced the Nazi's May 7, 1945, surrender.
"It's a wonderful honor to have our film recognized by the festival judges and to see former WWII correspondent Reuben finally get recognition for his outstanding war reporting in Europe 80 years ago," McCoy said.
The Marina del Rey Film Festival was established in 2012 and features films exclusively by independent filmmakers. This year, the festival screed 403 films. The 2024 festival was held from June 21 to 27 in Sherman Oaks, California.
"Running Towards the Fire not only tells the important history of war correspondents but sheds light on the courage and dedication of journalists who risk their lives to bring crucial stories to the world," said Shari Veil, Jane T. Olson Dean of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications. "This recognition underscores the significance of their contributions and highlights the enduring impact of their work. We're incredibly proud of Barney and the profound storytelling showcased in the documentary."
To learn more about the Marina del Rey Film Festival, visit https://www.marinadelreyfilmfestival.com/.
