MUMBAI: David Hoffman’s The Fever of ’57, a documentary-style movie, will have its world premiere screening at the SIFF Cinema theater during the ongoing Seattle International Film Festival.

Hoffman will hold a Q&A session immediately after the screening. The Fever of ’57 tells the story of America’s reaction to the Soviet Union’s successful launch of Sputnik in October 1957. According to Hoffman, America’s initial reaction of wonder and awe quickly turned to fear and widespread panic as the people were told by political and military leaders that the same rocket that carried Sputnik to space could also be used as an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) capable of delivering nuclear weapons to American soil.

“This movie is a labour of love, and it’s an exciting pleasure to present its world premiere at the Seattle International Film Festival,” says Hoffman. “I uncovered a story that has never been told and got unprecedented access to people who told me parts of the story that allowed me to put the whole thing together. It shocked me, and I hope it shocks audiences as well.”

Notably, The Fever of ’57 was made by only three people: Hoffman, editor John Vincent Barrett and 24-year-old, first-time producer Eric Reid. They uncovered never-before-seen films and recently declassified government documents that proved crucial in capturing the feelings of the day and telling the story.