Reviews and Festivals
2024 Organization of American Historians Erik Barnouw Award Winner
"A hauntingly powerful work that reveals the depth of devastation in Japan in the days that followed the dropping of atomic bombs in World War II. The combination of never-before-seen historical footage, eyewitness accounts, and compelling voice acting all combine to offer an artistically skilled story that humanizes a devastating world event so often understood only in the abstract."
— Organization of American Historians' Erik Barnouw Award Committee
"A powerful record of the complete devastation of the cities, the stoic courage shown by victims, survivors, and medical staff, and finally the extended cover-up. This is sure to spark discussion on the dangers and futility of nuclear war."
— Booklist
"Highly Recommended. Represents a crucial contribution to the historical record of one of the most pivotal moments in modern warfare... With a core running time conducive to classroom screenings, Atomic Cover-Up is essential viewing for faculty and students exploring World War II, military journalism, atomic weapons, Asian studies, and civilian casualties of war. Some students of film studies and filmmaking may also be attracted to this title."
— Educational Media Reviews Online
"An important story, and compelling new angle, well told. A 'must-see' documentary for anyone who cares about peace - and how wars will be fought in the future."
— Glenn Silber, director of Oscar-nominated The War at Home
"More than a movie, a legitimate historical document of almost unspeakable acts of war."
— Charles P. Piece, Esquire
"Essential viewing. If I had my way, I would add it to the civics curriculum for all high school seniors in the country."
— Scott Horton, contributing editor, Harper's Magazine
"A film worth the watch — and I hope many see it."
— David Folkenflik, National Public Radio
"A devastating and necessary film, and a stark and humbling refresher course in why atomic weapons must never be used again."
— Wally Lamb, author of I Know This Much is True
"Should be viewed in every high school and college history classroom."
— Kai Bird, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of American Prometheus
"Very powerful. The images are gripping and the details of the cover-up certainly makes one wonder how nuclear policies might have been different had the footage been widely seen decades ago."
— Jo Becker, Human Rights Watch
"The understatement of the film's style lets the horror of the long-suppressed images do all the work. It is stunningly powerful."
— Harry Shearer, actor
"A much-needed reminder of the gravest existential threat known to mankind, and the men who fought to bring it vividly to light."
— Erik Larson, author of The Splendid and the Vile
"What a great film and original concept. An absolutely crucial way to understanding all wars."
— Rod Lurie, director of The Outpost, The Contender, and other films
"So moving, disturbing and important"
— Alex Winter, director of The Panama Papers, Show Biz Kids, and other films
"A profoundly poignant film put together from long classified and locked away documentary footage. Like Night and Fog, the kind of footage the world needs to see to leave no doubt this must never happen again."
— Mark Durand, producer, ESPN films
WINNER
Uranium International Film Festival, Best Documentary
Barrymore Film Center, Best Documentary Short
Ridgewood Film Festival, Best Documentary
Venice Shorts Film Festival, Runner-Up Best Documentary
OFFICIAL SELECTION
San Diego International Film Festival
Cinequest
Hawaii International Film Festival
Big Apple Film Festival
Tokyo Shorts
Venezia Shorts
Barrymore Film Center
Uranium Film Festival (Rio)
Uranium Film Festival (Berlin)
Boston International Film Festival
Portland International Film Festival
Breckenridge Film Festival
Chicago Lift-Off Film Festival
Venice Shorts
Ridgewood Film Festival
Global Peace Festival
Louisville International Film Festival