Mount Sinai and discovery+ Debut THE SURGE AT MOUNT SINAI
The documentary film takes viewers into one of the largest healthcare systems in the country during the global pandemic
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Mount Sinai Health System, one of the largest healthcare systems in the country, and discovery+, the definitive non-fiction, real-life subscription streaming service, unveil the global launch of the powerful and timely documentary THE SURGE AT MOUNT SINAI. The documentary tracks three healthcare workers, two intimate patient journeys and experts from across the hospital during one of the most unprecedented global pandemics, COVID-19. With intimate access to those on the front lines, the film chronicles the race against time as New York City became the global epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak and experiencing more than 350 deaths per day. At times harrowing and other heroic, THE SURGE AT MOUNT SINAI is a reminder of what our nation has come through and that everyone has the capacity to be a hero. The film is narrated by Jon Bon Jovi, features a song from Billie Eilish, produced by purpose-driven creative studio, CONVICTS, in association with Mount Sinai Health System, and directed by Jonny Kapps.
COVID-19 is one of the greatest challenges our generation has ever faced and nowhere embodied the catastrophe of the pandemic like New York City in the spring of 2020. THE SURGE AT MOUNT SINAI tells the story of this turbulent time from the perspective of frontline healthcare workers staffing one of the country’s largest – and most overwhelmed healthcare systems – as they fight night and day to save the lives of COVID-19 patients, their city, and themselves.
“This film explores the emotional journey of individuals who responded to the pandemic in unimaginable ways,” said David A. Feinberg, Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Mount Sinai Health System, Dean of Marketing and Communications at Icahn School of Medicine, and Co-Executive Producer on the documentary. “The heroism and innovative spirit by the scientific and medical community is awe-inspiring. The unprecedented challenges we faced, the many lives we saved, and the scientific breakthroughs that were identified gives the viewer a unique view of how we found our way through one of our darkest periods. We hope audiences will be moved and inspired by the bold actions taken by the heroes in this film and will come away understanding who we are as an organization. We are forever changed by this period, and our relentless pursuit of knowledge, understanding, and answers to the world’s most complex health challenges continues.”
“We are honored to shine a light on the heroes who came to the world's rescue during an unprecedented global pandemic,” said Lisa Holme, Group SVP of Content and Commercial Strategy, Discovery, Inc. “At discovery+, we take pride in bringing our subscribers the best real-life stories and there is no more important story from the past year than following the trials of our healthcare workers.”
THE SURGE AT MOUNT SINAI will begin streaming globally on Thursday, July 1 exclusively on discovery+. Ahead of the premiere, Mount Sinai is hosting a special virtual screening of the film for all Mount Sinai Health System employees on Wednesday, June 30 at 5 pm ET followed by a panel discussion. In addition to watching the series on discovery+, viewers can join the conversation on social media with the hashtag #TheSurge and follow discovery+ on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok and Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for more updates.
“Our purpose for this film was to give the world a glimpse into what life was like for the heroic frontline workers during the height of the pandemic,'' said Peter Maiden, founder and CEO of CONVICTS and Executive Producer on the documentary. “These individuals went above and beyond and dedicated an extraordinary amount of time and energy to saving the lives of NYC residents. Capturing their perseverance through the pandemic felt like the most important story that could be told during this time. We are grateful for Mount Sinai for the opportunity to engage with their staff and excited to partner with discovery+ to bring these stories to the forefront. We hope the film will inspire audiences to find the goodness in humanity, even in the dark, and to keep purpose at the heart of all they do.”
THE SURGE AT MOUNT SINAI is produced by CONVICTS in association with Mount Sinai Health System; directed by Jonny Kapps; executive produced by Mark Dowley, David Feinberg, Peter Maiden and Cindy Vanegas-Gesuale; produced by Sarah Hawkins and Michelle Leung; co-produced by Lucia Lee and Nicole Hudson; edited by Kane Platt; Post-production by Hooligan NYC; Original score by Hakan Eriksson; Colorist, Sofie Friis Borup from Company 3. The documentary is CONVICTS’ first foray into long-form content as the studio looks to scale its development arm.
About discovery+
discovery+ is the definitive non-fiction, real life subscription streaming service. discovery+ features a landmark partnership with Verizon that gives their customers with select plans up to 12 months of discovery+ on Verizon. discovery+ has the largest-ever content offering of any new streaming service at launch, featuring a wide range of exclusive, original series across popular, passion verticals in which Discovery brands have a strong leadership position, including lifestyle and relationships; home and food; true crime; paranormal; adventure and natural history; as well as science, tech and the environment, and a slate of high-quality documentaries. For more, visit discoveryplus.com or find it on a variety of platforms and devices, including ones from Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Roku and Samsung.
About CONVICTS
Founded in 2015, CONVICTS is a digital media brand and creative studio that aims to make the world a better place through original storytelling. We’re all about the right kind of trouble: the status-quo shaking, rebelliously positive actions and attitudes that move the needle from bad to good. To this end, we develop and distribute premium original content and programming about the creators, characters and movements making the right kind of trouble in contemporary culture. We amplify their voices through our cross-channel network that reaches a global community of conscious tastemakers. With offices in New York, Los Angeles, and Byron Bay, CONVICTS’ full-service creative studio collaborates with select brands and organizations to produce and publish purposeful video, photo and written content for today’s digital platforms and socially minded audiences. CONVICTS clients have included the Apollo Theater, AUDI, Estée Lauder, UNICEF, Nike, LVMH, Instagram, Heineken, Ian Schrager Company, Bacardi and Creative Artists Agency among many others. For more, visit us at convicts.nyc and @convicts on our social channels.
About the Mount Sinai Health System
Mount Sinai Health System is one of the largest academic medical systems in the New York metro area, with 48,000 employees working across eight hospitals, more than 400 outpatient practices, more than 600 research and clinical labs, a school of nursing, and a leading school of medicine and graduate education. Mount Sinai advances health for all people, everywhere, by taking on the most complex health care challenges of our time—discovering and applying new scientific learning and knowledge; developing safer, more effective treatments; educating the next generation of medical leaders and innovators; and supporting local communities by delivering high-quality care to all who need it.
Through the integration of its hospitals, labs, and schools, Mount Sinai offers comprehensive health care solutions from birth through geriatrics, leveraging innovative approaches such as artificial intelligence and informatics while keeping patients’ medical and emotional needs at the center of all treatment. The Health System includes approximately 9,000 primary and specialty care physicians and 11 free-standing joint-venture centers throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida. Hospitals within the System are consistently ranked by Newsweek’s® “The World’s Best Smart Hospitals, Best in State Hospitals, World Best Hospitals and Best Specialty Hospitals” and by U.S. News & World Report's® “Best Hospitals” and “Best Children’s Hospitals.” The Mount Sinai Hospital is on the U.S. News & World Report® “Best Hospitals” Honor Roll for 2024-2025.
For more information, visit https://www.mountsinai.org or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.