"They Shall Not Grow Old" Special U.S. National Archives video posted on YouTube

By Chris Isleib
Director of Public Affairs, United States World War One Centennial Commission

WASHINGTON, DC — As mentioned in earlier coverage, the much-anticipated Peter Jackson World War I documentary, THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD will screen in American movie theaters December 17th and December 27th. Tickets are currently on sale for the film's screenings, and can be purchased here.

The premiere screening of the film in the United States took place last week, at the U.S. National Archives in Washington, DC, on Monday, DEC 10th. The screening was hosted by the British Council, the UK’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities.

As part of the event, a remarkable after-screening panel-discussion took place. That panel discussion has been made available by the U.S. National Archives, and can be seen above, or on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5b3kTi6K04Q

The 30-minute panel discussion was moderated by BBC journalist Jane O'Brien, and the panelists included:

• 1418NOW Director Jen Waldman. 1418NOW is the UK government’s arts program for the First World War centenary, and co-produced the film.
• Executive Director of the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission Dan Dayton
• British Embassy military attache, Brigadier James Carr-Smith, the Military Attache from the British Embassy.
• Head of FIlm Research/digitization at the US National Archives, Daniel Rooney

The panel proved to be a lively talk on a variety of topics, ranging from film preservation, to the history of World War I, to the creation of the new National World War I Memorial in Washington DC.

Panelists at the premiere screening of THE SHALL NOT GROW OLD, (L-R) Daniel Rooney (U.S. National Archives), Daniel Dayton (U.S. World War I Centennial Commission), Jen Waldman (1418NOW), Panel Moderator Jane O'Brien (BBC News), and Brigadier James Carr-Smith (British Embassy).