Filmmaker and 9/11 Survivor Paul Eliacin Calls for National Reflection Ahead of 25th Anniversary
With over five hours of never-before-seen Ground Zero footage and over 300 never-before-published photos, Eliacin urges Americans to share their stories, remember the lost, and prepare for a powerful documentary tribute.
NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / December 12, 2025 /Paul Eliacin, a retired Theatrical Teamster and filmmaker who witnessed the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks firsthand, is calling on Americans to pause, reflect, and share their personal experiences as the 25th anniversary of September 11 approaches in 2026.
Eliacin, who was on the ground in Lower Manhattan with a camera in hand, three days after the disaster, captured over 300 unpublished photographs and more than five hours of raw, never-before-seen footage at Ground Zero. Today, he is using that material to produce a powerful new documentary aimed at telling the story from a street-level view.
"I didn 't go out that day looking to make a film, " said Eliacin. "But when the towers fell, something inside me said: 'Document this. The world needs to remember it; not from above, but from right here on the ground, through our eyes. ' "
A Witness With a Mission
Eliacin 's career in film and television spans over 30 years, including decades on the sets of Law & Order SVU, Men In Black, New York Undercover, Conspiracy Theory, One Fine Day, Boomerang, and The Sopranos. But nothing prepared him for what he witnessed after 9/11. He became not just a witness, but a documentarian.
His upcoming documentary will weave those images and scenes with stories of grief, courage, and recovery. He hopes it will not only honor the victims and First Responders but spark a national conversation.
Why Now?
As the country nears a quarter-century since that day, the urgency of remembrance is growing.
According to a 2021 Pew Research study, just 41% of adults under 30 can recall where they were on 9/11, compared to 95% of adults over 45. The number of survivors and First Responders facing long-term health impacts also continues to grow: more than 80,000 have registered for health monitoring through the World Trade Center Health Program. First Responders, many of them unsung, are dying in growing numbers. As an example, Eliacin recalls with sadness the November 27, 2025, Thanksgiving Day passing of former FDNY captain James Riches. After the attacks on September 11, 2001, his son, James Riches Jr. (Jimmy), who was an FDNY firefighter, died in the North Tower. For months after 9/11, Jim Riches spent day after day at Ground Zero, painstakingly combing the rubble to recover his son 's remains. He eventually succeeded in March 2002.
In the years after retirement, Riches devoted himself to advocating for 9/11 first-responders and their families, calling attention to health risks tied to the toxic dust at Ground Zero. He died from a 9/11 related illness.
"Time doesn 't heal all wounds, " Eliacin said. "It 's up to us to carry the memory forward. Especially for the next generation, who didn 't live through it but need to learn from it. "
A Call for Reflection, Not Just Watching
While Eliacin hopes to release his documentary closer to the 25th anniversary in 2026, his message is about more than just a film. He 's urging people to take action in their own way by reflecting, talking to family, and sharing their own memories and lessons from that day.
"WE MUST NEVER FORGET, " he emphasized. "Don 't wait for a movie to remember. Sit with your children. Talk to your neighbors. Write down your experience. Post it. Pass it on. Because your story matters too. "
What You Can Do
Paul Eliacin encourages everyone to:
Share your 9/11 story with friends, family, or on social media
Honor First Responders in your community through local support or volunteering
Reach out to someone affected by 9/11, directly or indirectly
Reflect on how the world has changed and how we can continue to rebuild, together
"9/11 wasn 't just a tragedy; it was a turning point, " said Eliacin. "And turning points deserve more than silence. They deserve stories. They deserve the truth. "
About Paul Eliacin
Paul Eliacin is a Brooklyn native, retired Theatrical Teamster, and filmmaker. With a career spanning over 30 years in film and TV production, Paul also directed and starred in the 2004 independent feature Up In Harlem. He is currently developing a 9/11 documentary using footage and photographs he captured on-site at Ground Zero in 2001. He is also an active community volunteer and advocate for the homeless.
Contact: info@pauleliacin.com
SOURCE:Paul Eliacin
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