"Crown Heights" tells the story of an innocent man imprisoned for 20 years

CHICAGO (WLS) -- "Crown Heights," a powerful film about an innocent man sent to prison for a killing he had nothing to do with, stars a former NFL player who's married to actress Kerry Washington.

Janet Davies spoke with the real victim of the system who survived and is finally free, a story that inspired the film, which was a big winner at Sundance.

In 1980, New York Police arrested a teenage immigrant for murder in Brooklyn. Convicted for a crime he did not commit, Colin Warner spent over two decades in prison while his best friend fought for his freedom. "Crown Heights" offers up that true story.

"In the end, I hope that my doing 21 years will be incentive for another human being to say listen, let me try to stop this somehow or work towards helping people," said Colin Warner.

Playing the childhood friend who does everything to exonerate Warner is Nnamdi Asomugha, a former NFL cornerback.

"You could see how big his heart was, and that he would go after any injustice and try to fight it until the end of time," said Asomugha.

Asomugha gets support from home for his acting career. His wife is Kerry Washington from ABC's Scandal.

"I've been one of those blessed people to have a strong support system at home," said Asomugha.

"My one mantra, I did not kill this individual, for the whole 21 years, that was part of my therapy," said Warner. "It was a lifetime and I appreciate being here today. I speak to you and you send the word out because we all need help."