HBO film teaser about Jim Foley's life released

James Foley while working as an overseas conflict journalist. (Courtesy photo)

A preview to an HBO Documentary Films movie about the life of kidnapped and beheaded American journalist James Foley was uploaded to youtube.com on Tuesday.

Foley, whose parents live in Rochester, was kidnapped in Syria on Thanksgiving Day in 2012 and later turned over to ISIS forces. He was beheaded in August 2014 in one of ISIS's first atrocities.

He was also kidnapped for a month and a half during the Iraq conflict several years ago, but escaped that confinement unscathed.

Foley, a correspondent for GlobalPost, grew up in Wolfeboro, graduating from Kingswood Regional High School in 1992. His family later moved to Rochester.

Jim: The James Foley Story, a documentary about Foley's life and his work as a conflict journalist, was acquired by HBO Documentary Films on Tuesday.

Foley's childhood friend Brian Oakes directed the film, which will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah later this month before debuting on the premium cable channel on Feb. 6.

Jim tells the true story of Foley, and will use interviews with family, friends and fellow journalists to tell his story.

Additional interviews with fellow hostages are also featured.

"James Foley is America's son," said HBO Documentary Films president Sheila Nevins. "If this story doesn't move you, nothing can."

To view the preview click here.