 The film was first shown on September 3, 2011, at the Telluride Film Festival, and had its official world premiere on September 8, 2011, at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.After strong festival showings and a surge of interest in the issue of capital punishment in the United States, Herzog requested that the film be rushed into general theatrical release, which occurred on November 11, 2011.The film profiles Michael Perry (April 9, 1982 – July 1, 2010), a man on death row convicted of murdering Sandra Stotler, a 50-year-old nurse.