HBO picks up chimpanzee documentary

HBO has acquired all U.S. rights to the documentary "Project Nim," ahead of its world premiere in competition at the Sundance Film Festival Thursday.
Directed by James Marsh, who shot the Oscar-winning trapeze tale "Man on Wire," the film follows the life of a chimpanzee who was raised like a human as part of a 1970s experiment. The film combines interviews with participants in the experiment and archival footage to depict the chimpanzee's life in New York. Named for the late chimp, Nim Chimpsky, the film has generated significant buzz in advance of the festival.