Countdown to Zero

COUNTDOWN TO ZERO traces the history of the atomic bomb from its origins to the present state of global affairs: nine nations possessing nuclear weapons capabilities with others racing to join them, with the world held in a delicate balance that could be shattered by an act of terrorism, failed diplomacy, or a simple accident. Written and directed by acclaimed documentarian Lucy Walker (The Devil's Playground, Blindsight), the film features an array of important international statesmen, including President Jimmy Carter, Mikhail Gorbachev, Pervez Musharraf and Tony Blair. It makes a compelling case for worldwide nuclear disarmament, an issue more topical than ever with the Obama administration working to revive this goal today. The film was produced by Academy Award® winner and current nominee Lawrence Bender (Inglourious Basterds, An Inconvenient Truth) and developed, financed and executive produced by Participant Media, together with World Security Institute. Participant collaborated with Magnolia on last year's Food, Inc., recently nominated for an Academy Award®, and the upcoming CASINO JACK and the United States of Money. Jeff Skoll, Diane Weyermann, Bruce Blair and Matt Brown are the film's executive producers.

Director: Lucy Walker

Interviews: Valerie Plame Wilson, Graham Allison, Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, Matthew Bunn, Lawrence Scott Sheets, Oleg Khintsagov,Scott Sagan, Zia Mian, Pervez Hoodbhoy, Pervez Musharraf, Mike Chinoy, Alexander Glaser, Tony Blair, Andrew Koch, Ahmed Rashid, Joe Cirincione, Jeffrey Lewis, Bruce Blair, Roger Molander, Jimmy Carter, Mikhail Gorbachev, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Ira Helfand, Frank von Hippel, R. Scott Kemp, Robert McNamara, Richard Cizik, F. W. de Klerk, Thomas D’Agostino, Richard Burt, James Baker II