After much deliberation, it has been decided to post the very first documentary on otsoNY. Man on Wire was released in 2008 and follows the remarkable high-wire stunt between the Twin Towers of New York’s World Trade Center by Philippe Petit in 1974. The actual title for the film was taken from the police report that led to the arrest of Petit, whose performance between the buildings had lasted for almost one hour. The film is crafted like a heist film, presenting rare footage of the preparations for the event and still photographs of the walk, alongside re-enactments and present-day interviews with the participants.

Man on Wire won the Special Jury Award and Audience Award at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, the International Audience Award at the Los Angeles Film Festival and the Standard Life Audience Award at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. The film also won the Jury Prize and Audience Award in the World Cinema: Documentary competition at the Sundance Film Festival. Man on Wire is the sixth film to pick up both top awards at Sundance, and the first from outside the US. In February 2009, the film won the BAFTA for Outstanding British Film, and Best Documentary Film in the Australian Film Critics Association Awards. It won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 81st Academy Awards.

Unfortunately the documentary lacks any actual video footage from the walk between the two towers. Still photographs are displayed at the end, and although they are breath-taking to see and remind us all how wonderful the towers were, there is a sense of disappointment. Nevertheless, otsoNY is proud to finally include this masterpiece with the Film Location section.