VENICE, Italy—Director Michael Mann's production of ''Witness Libya" is being shown out of competition at the Venice Film Festival, where he is chairing the jury that will decide the winner of the coveted Golden Lion.

"Witness Libya" is one of a four-part HBO documentary series following combat photographers into conflict zones. In the Libya entry, a small crew follows American photographer Michael Christopher Brown into Libya a few months after the death of leader Moammar Gadhafi.

Mann told The Associated Press that the documentary, which he executive produces, ''brings you into the real human complexity on the ground."

Brown said he tried to be ''as truthful as I could."

He said the film was a tribute to colleagues Chris Hondros and Tim Hetherington, both killed in Libya in April 2011.