“RBG” and “Julia” filmmakers Betsy West and Julie Cohen will produce a new short documentary, “Top of the World,” for CNN Films and Time Studios.
Set inside Windows on the World, the legendary restaurant atop the World Trade Center, this short documentary uses the voices of the people who work there to capture a portrait of ambition, community, and resilience. Produced in association with Montalto Pictures, Tribeca Studios and Storyville Films, Top of the World will premiere in select theaters and on CNN this fall. This release coincides with the 25th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks and the 50th anniversary of the opening of Windows on the World.
This movie is based on Tom Roston’s “The Greatest Restaurant in the World.” This is backed up by first-hand testimony from the restaurant’s longtime wine master, Kevin Zurary. He served his term from the restaurant’s opening until its final day. Sekou Sibi came from Ivory Coast as a prep cook and forged a path to citizenship. Michael Lomonaco, the last head chef who led the restaurant to its greatest acclaim. And Peruvian-born hostess Natalie Tolentino became an integral part of the family grieving in the aftermath of the attack. The words of visionary restaurateur Joe Baum, the mastermind behind the legendary restaurant, are woven throughout.
“Windows had many of the things that make New York beautiful: the glamor and spectacle of the world of fine food and fine wine, and a talented staff of immigrants from around the world who bring diverse experiences to their work every day. We are thrilled to be able to tell this rich, multifaceted story,” Cohen and West said in a statement.
“Ryan and I read Tom Roston’s ‘The Most Spectacular Restaurant in the World’ when it was released in 2019, and from that moment we were determined to bring this incredible story to the screen,” said Katie Lee Biegel and Ryan Biegel of Montalto Pictures. “Windows on the World captures so much of the spirit of New York City, and in many ways the history of Windows mirrors the history of New York City itself. The stories told in this documentary are emotional and moving. Julie and Betsy have done an incredible job of striking the delicate balance between celebrating the magic and cultural impact of Windows while honoring the lives lost on that tragic day. We are extremely proud to partner with CNN on this project.”
“Few filmmakers working today are as adept at uncovering the human stories behind history-defining moments as Betsy West and Julie Cohen,” said Amy Entelis, executive vice president of Talent, CNN Originals and Creative Development, CNN Worldwide. “Top of the World provides a very personal window into a place that means so much to New York and the people who work there.”
“This is a very special project for all of us at Time. Windows on the World represents the energy, optimism and soul of New York, and we are grateful to our partners for giving us the opportunity to bring this incredible story to audiences,” said Ben Bitonti, president of Time Studios.
Windows on the World, which opened in 1976, occupied the 106th and 107th floors of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. At its peak, it was the highest-grossing independent restaurant in the United States and a cultural crossroads, with more than 60 languages spoken among its staff. For many who worked there, it was a gateway to opportunity and a gateway to American life, where careers were built, families supported, and a close-knit community that reflected the city’s immigrant spirit. That community was forever changed on September 11, 2001, when the attacks on the World Trade Center claimed the lives of 79 Windows employees and reshaped the lives of those who survived.
To complement this portrait, Executive Producer Katie Lee Biegel works with Executive Producer Ryan Biegel as a culinary consultant and food stylist to bring to life the artistry of the restaurant’s menus and dishes.
West and Cohen will serve as executive producers and directors on the film. This short documentary was produced by Ryan Biegel, Vicki Liu, and Holly Siegel. Executive producers are Entelis and Roxanna Sherwood of CNN Films. Bitoni and Lauren Hammons of Time Studio. Katie Lee Biegel and Ryan Biegel of Montalto Pictures. Jane Rosenthal and Berry Welsh at Tribeca Studios. Regina K. Scully. And Oren Jacoby. “Top of the World” is edited by Ilya Chaiken and directed by Claudia Raschke.
This project marks the filmmaker’s fifth collaboration with CNN Films. They previously worked together on “RBG,” “Julia,” “Gabby Giffords: Won’t Back Down” and the upcoming “Amelia.” CNN Movies and Time Studios are collaborating on films based on celebrities such as John Lewis and Giffords.
Cohen and West’s “RBG” was nominated for an Oscar. Their film “My Name is Pauli Murray” won a Peabody Award and a DuPont-Columbia Award. And “Julia” was shortlisted for an Oscar. They were creative executive producers on last year’s Oscar-nominated film Frida. Cohen recently directed the documentaries “Everybody” and “The Path Forward,” while West directed the Oscar-shortlisted “Once Upon a Time in Ukraine” and produced Oren Jacoby’s “This Is Not a Drill,” which premiered at Telluride in 2025.
Before beginning their filmmaking partnership in 2015, Cohen and West both had careers in broadcast journalism and independent documentary. Cohen is a producer for Court TV and Dateline NBC, where he directed, among others, “The Sturgeon Queens” (Berlinale 2015) and “I Live to Sing” (PBS, New York Emmy Award for Best Arts Program). West is a network television news producer and executive who won 21 Emmy Awards, first at ABC and then as the executive in charge of “60 Minutes” at CBS. The duo is represented by CAA and Alexis Galfas of Cinetic Media.
