Great American premieres Boatlift 9/11

Great American Media said on Wednesday it will stream the world television premiere of the short film “Boatlift 9/11” on Great American Pure Flix beginning September 10, tying the release to the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The company described the film as an original short focused on the civilian-led boat evacuation from Lower Manhattan after the attacks. Great American said the film will be exclusive to its Pure Flix platform. Independent Shorts Awards listed “Boatlift 9/11” as its best short of the season in its June-July 2026 awards. ### What exactly is being released on September 10? September 10 is the date Great American Media gave for the film’s streaming debut on Great American Pure Flix. The company called it the “world television premiere” of “Boatlift 9/11,” an award-winning short that it said commemorates the 25th anniversary of September 11. (prnewswire.com) Great American Pure Flix is the exclusive outlet for the release, according to the company’s announcement. Syndicated copies of the release carried the same timing and exclusivity language on Wednesday. (prnewswire.com) ### What story does “Boatlift 9/11” tell? “Boatlift 9/11” centers on the emergency evacuation by water from Lower Manhattan after the attacks, according to Great American Media and Independent Shorts Awards. Great American said the film honors mariners and other civilians who responded after Lower Manhattan came under attack. (prnewswire.com) Independent Shorts Awards said the film revisits the spontaneous mobilization of ferries, tugboats, fishing vessels and privately operated boats that moved people away from Manhattan. Great American said those mariners helped carry 500,000 people to safety and described the operation as the largest maritime evacuation in history. (prnewswire.com) ### Who made the film, and what recognition has it received? Independent Shorts Awards identified Dale Fabrigar as the director of “Boatlift 9/11.” The awards organization said in July that the film had been named best short of June-July and later listed it as “Best Short of the Season (Special Jury Award)” in its June-July 2026 winners page. (prnewswire.com) July 27 is the publication date on one Independent Shorts Awards post highlighting the film’s win. The group said the project was one of its standout winners for the period and embedded an official trailer in that write-up. ### Why is Great American Media timing the release this way? (independentshortsawards.com) Wednesday’s announcement explicitly tied the release to the 25th anniversary of September 11. Great American Media said the premiere is part of its commemoration of that anniversary and positioned the film as a remembrance-focused release rather than a routine library addition. (independentshortsawards.com) September 11 has also been framed this year by other organizations around remembrance and public observance. A separate PR Newswire release from nonprofit 9/11 Day said it is organizing anniversary-related service efforts around the 25-year mark. ### Where can viewers find it next? (prnewswire.com) Great American Media said viewers can watch “Boatlift 9/11” on Great American Pure Flix starting September 10. The company’s announcement did not list a broader release plan beyond the exclusive streaming debut. (prnewswire.com) September 10 is the next concrete date in the rollout, and Great American Pure Flix is the named platform attached to that step. Independent Shorts Awards’ recognition and Great American’s anniversary timing are the two main credentials cited in the campaign materials released on September 2. (prnewswire.com)