The 9/11 Faker

The 9/11 Faker tells the extraordinary story of Tania Head, one of the most audacious impostors in recent history. It recounts how Head fabricated an elaborate tale of survival from the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. Despite never having been in the Twin Towers that day, Head claimed to have escaped from the 78th floor of the South Tower with severe burns and a nearly severed arm.

Head’s intricate web of lies included a fictional fiancé who was said to have died in the North Tower, as well as vivid details of her supposed escape, including being led to safety by Welles Crowther, the real-life ‘man in the red bandana’ who saved many lives that day. Her story was so compelling that she became a prominent figure in the 9/11 survivors’ community, eventually becoming president of the World Trade Center Survivors’ Network.

Head, whose real name is Alicia Esteve Head, was in fact in Barcelona on September 11, 2001, enrolled at a business school. The documentary traces her journey from Spain to New York, where she immersed herself in the survivors’ community and carefully constructed her false narrative. Her deception went undetected for years, despite inconsistencies in her story that some survivors noticed but were reluctant to challenge.

As Head’s profile grew, so did scrutiny of her claims. This culminated in a 2007 New York Times exposé that revealed the truth. The film features interviews with real survivors and others who interacted with Head, offering insight into the impact of her deception on the 9/11 community and raising questions about the nature of trauma, memory and the human capacity for deceit.