New Film, The Sixth, Provides a Glimpse of a Nation Under Siege on Jan 6th
THE SIXTH is a feature documentary produced in collaboration with A24. Directed by Academy Award®, Emmy and Peabody Award-winning filmmakers Andrea Nix Fine and Sean Fine, THE SIXTH takes you inside the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol through six personal accounts and never-before-seen original footage. Featuring Congressman Jamie Raskin, DC Metropolitan Chief of Police Robert J. Contee III, his officers, Daniel Hodges and Christina Laury, photographer Mel D. Cole and Congressional staffer Erica Loewe. Their interwoven experiences share an unflinching account of how race, service and truth defined that pivotal day. This harrowing yet hopeful film is a powerful reminder that the fate of democracy is in all our hands. Produced by Change Content and A24.
DIRECTOR’S NOTE
“Sometimes the truth is like a second chance” …
…Congressman Jamie Raskin says this in the film, and it really held the sentiment of what drives the heart of this film. These six people are sitting down and sharing their truth and how their lives were forever changed by the events of that day. There’s a big difference between investigation and bearing witness. January 6th was a catastrophic and incredibly violent day. So many people who still serve our government, our police force, and our media are still traumatized. Sharing their stories will help everyone reckon and come to grips with the meaning of January 6th — it’s a kind of collective catharsis. Only then can we begin healing and move forward. But, never forget. We should never forget, rewrite or downplay what happened, and what almost happened that day.
DC is our hometown so January 6th feels intensely personal to us and our entire production team, who like the characters in our film, live and work in the Nation’s capital. Curfews were imposed on our kids. Helicopters buzzed for hours over our homes. National Guard troops lined our streets. Our town was under attack that day and we felt that we had to tell a personal story about what everyday people endured who came to work that morning.
This film is hard hitting, and raw. As Mel D. Cole says so well in the film, “I am not telling you something you didn’t know, I am showing you something you already do know.” As a country we have to now deal with what we do know. But ultimately, this film has a higher calling. It is a true testament to public service and it is a hopeful film. Despite the trauma of January 6th, we think people will feel drawn to be thankful that these six individuals did their job that day. And to this day continue to serve their country by doing their job.