TV Guide Network to air 'Precious' special

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LOS ANGELES, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- TV Guide Network has announced plans to air an exclusive one-hour special about the U.S. film "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire."

The Lionsgate film is nominated for six Academy Awards.

Tanika Ray is to serve as host of "Precious: The Story Behind the Movie," which is to air Feb. 20 on TV Guide Network.

The program documents the film's journey from page to screen, and includes never-before-seen film footage, exclusive interviews with the director and cast members, and emotional reactions from filmgoers who have seen the movie and been touched by its story, the network said.

"A lot of people are afraid to see the movie because they think it's so dark but it's actually a beautiful film and it makes you appreciate the light in your life," the film's star Gabourey Sidibe told TV Guide Network in an interview to be shown on the program.

"TV Guide Network is proud to further explore 'Precious' in a one-hour special, from its indie film beginning to its award-winning mainstream success," Diane Robina, the network's executive vice president of development, acquisitions and programming strategy. "The film and its journey to the screen are testaments to strength and perseverance in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds."