Toronto 2012: Magnolia Lands Documentary 'No Place on Earth'

11:43 AM PDT 9/13/2012 by Pamela McClintock

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The film marks the directorial debut of Janet Tobias, a former producer for "60 Minutes," "Dateline NBC" and "Nightline."

TORONTO -- Magnolia Pictures has acquired U.S. film rights to acclaimed documentary No Place on Earth, about an extended Jewish family who hid in caves to evade the Nazis, and is planning a 2013 theatrical release.

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The feature doc marks the directorial debut of Janet Tobias, a former producer for 60 Minutes, Dateline NBC and Nightline.

Magnolia, a division of the Wagner/Cuban company, struck the deal with History Films, which has U.S. television rights to the doc, less than 48 hours after the documentary premiered at the Toronto Film Festival to a lengthy standing ovation.

No Place on Earth brings to light the untold story of 38 Ukrainian Jews who survived World War II by living in caves for 18 months, the longest-recorded sustained underground survival. Tobias interviewed many of the former cave inhabitants, as well as Chris Nicola, the caving enthusiast who unearthed the story.

"Janet Tobias has powerfully brought to life a stunning chapter of history that will resonate with audiences of all kinds," Magnolia president Eamonn Bowles said.