The Los Angeles Press Club is thrilled to announce the winner of its 10th annual Veritas Award for Best Film Based on or Inspired by Real Events and People. This award is judged by the 1,000-member strong LAPC — based equally upon fidelity of subject matter and artistic excellence.
The 2025 clear winner is September 5, distributed by Paramount Pictures. The journalistic thriller is directed by Tim Fehlbaum, who also wrote the script with Moritz Binder and co-writer Alex David. September 5 stars Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, Ben Chaplin, Leonie Benesch, Zinedine Soualem, Georgina Rich, Corey Johnson, Marcus Rutherford, Daniel Adeosun, Benjamin Walker and Ferdinand Dörfler. It is produced by Philipp Trauer, Thomas Wöbke, Tim Fehlbaum, Sean Penn, John Ira Palmer and John Wildermuth, co-produced by Geoffrey Mason, Constanze Guttmann, Rüdiger Böss and Christian Reitz, and executive produced by Martin Moszkowicz and Christoph Müller.
“We are thrilled to receive this year’s Veritas Award. September 5 is based on a true story about the difficult decisions journalists are confronted with in the face of crisis, so to be recognized by the esteemed members of the Los Angeles Press Club — and among the formidable list of past winners — is a great honor,” said the September 5 filmmakers.
September 5 is based on the drama that ensued during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany when an American sports broadcasting team must adapt to live coverage of Israeli athletes being held hostage by a terrorist group. The film will be available to stream on Paramount+ starting Feb. 25 in the U.S. and Canada.
“September 5 showcases the tough decisions that journalists must make in covering live events — and the ethical questions they have to address — while telling important stories,” said Los Angeles Press Club President Emeritus Lisa Richwine, Reuters News. “It is a prime example of what we honor with the Veritas Award.”
Past winners include Spotlight, Hidden Figures, The Post, Green Book, Bombshell, Trial of the Chicago 7, King Richard, She Said and Killers of the Flower Moon.
This year’s runner-ups were The Six Triple Eight and A Complete Unknown.
The Awards Ceremony will take place at the LA Press Club’s headquarters in Historic Filipinotown on Thursday, Feb. 27, starting at 6 p.m. Writer/director/producer Tim Fehlbaum will be among the filmmakers participating, moderated by Lisa Richwine. Click here for event details and to RSVP!
The Los Angeles Press Club stands as an organization devoted to improving the spirit of journalism and journalists, raising the industry’s standards, strengthening its integrity and improving its reputation all for the benefit of the community at large. Serving the Southland since 1913, it speaks for all journalists working for daily and weekly newspapers, radio & TV, magazines, documentary films and online.
