ECHOES IN THE NIGHT: THE SEARCH FOR JACOB WETTERLING is now finished, and we're excited to start sharing it with audiences. Do you have questions? Here, we answer some Frequently Asked Questions. If you don't find the answer you're looking for, feel free to contact us.

QUESTION:  What is the status of the film?

ANSWER:  After ten years, and several hundred hours of raw material captured and collected, our talented post-production team has shaped the material into a feature-length documentary, with a runtime of 1 hour, 53 minutes. The film will celebrate its World Premiere in April 2026 at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival. 

QUESTION:  Is the Wetterling family supportive of this film?

ANSWER:  Yes. It was important to us to get the blessing of Jacob's parents prior to starting this project. We also wanted to include Jacob's parents in the film, and they were gracious enough to spend several hours with us on multiple occasions. The story is told, in part, in their own words. Moreover, Patty and Jerry Wetterling have been involved in our fundraising efforts, appearing at several of our events and speaking to the importance of finishing this documentary. They see it as an important way of honoring Jacob's legacy.

QUESTION:  When (and how) will I get a chance to see the film?

ANSWER:  Great question! Hopefully very soon. If you're in the Twin Cities, you can try to grab a coveted ticket for our Premiere Week screenings at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival in April 2026 -- check here for tickets. If you miss us at the film festival, don't worry! There will definitely be opportunities to see the film in the (hopefully) near future. We will be partnering with a distributor to get the film out there on streaming platforms, so you can watch at home. There also may be future opportunities to see it on the big screen -- stay tuned for more announcements about that. In the meantime, you can sign up for the e-newsletter here.

QUESTION:  Are you affiliated with a television network or Hollywood studio?

ANSWER:  No. We are an independent documentary crew based in Minnesota. This is a hometown story for us, so we’ve been doing it as a labor-of-love. However, we really want to share Jacob’s story with the world, and we believe that someday soon this film will be distributed far and wide by a big broadcaster or streaming service. We have had discussions with several distributors and broadcasters, and have even received offers from some of them. But we're holding out for someone who truly understands the film and can help us reach the widest possible audience.

QUESTION:  Are you affiliated with the IN THE DARK podcast?

ANSWER:  No. We were, however, already producing the film back in 2015-2016, capturing several key moments in Jacob’s case. Therefore we were working parallel to the IN THE DARK team, as well as dozens of other members of the local and national press. IN THE DARK is an incredible example of great investigative journalism and the podcast is definitely worth a listen. We, on the other hand, are not investigative journalists and our focus will be very different from the podcast. IN THE DARK cultivated a huge fan base, and in-turn brought Jacob’s story to a whole new generation of people. And anyone who listened to Season One of IN THE DARK will absolutely find our film to be an illuminating new look at Jacob’s story.

QUESTION:  Are you still raising money for the film?

ANSWER:  For the past several years, we have been raising money from donors to help with finishing costs. We raised over $100,000, and it was instrumental in getting us across the finish line. But finishing a film is expensive, so our costs have certainly outpaced our fundraising. While we are no longer actively seeking donations, any funds that do come in will be put to good use, re-editing for a broadcast version of the film, and helping us promote the film far and wide at film festivals and other important events. If you'd like to help with a contribution, the easiest way is to give to our GoFundMe. Of course, giving isn't the only way you can help. You can help us spread the word by following us on social media (here is our Facebook page) and sharing our content. And you can sign up for the e-newsletter here. If a tax deduction is helpful to you, you may donate to the film through our fiscal sponsor. Instructions can be found here.