A film based on the true story of a wrongfully convicted man from Crown Heights is having its first run this week in Manhattan.

A special screening of the film named after the Brooklyn neighborhood was held at the Brooklyn Academy of Music Wednesday night.

"Crown Heights" tells the story of Collin Warner, who spent 21 years in prison for a fatal shooting in 1980 that he was not responsible for.

Writer and director Matt Ruskin worked closely with Warner to shed light on his painful, personal story.

The movie is adapted from a 2005 "This American Life" episode. It was shown Wednesday in a free, first-come-first-serve screening.

The film's opening is at the IFC Center in Manhattan on Friday at 7:30 p.m., and it will also play there on Saturday. It will be released in theatres across the country Aug. 25.