Holocaust Survivors to Hold Discussions at South Florida Theatres

(Boca Raton, FL) December 6, 2012 — A single deed by one individual, in 1938 at the onset of WWII,  inspires today’s youth worldwide to make a difference.  Sir Nicholas Winton, the Englishman dubbed “Britain’s Schindler” by Tony Blair, was the brains and brawn behind the Czech Kindertransport that rescued 669 Czech and Slovak children. Today, there are almost 6,000 descendants of those survivors.

Winton’s nearly forgotten story is told in the new film NICKY’S FAMILY, making its U.S. theatrical premiere in South Florida theaters, beginning January 11, 2013.

“NICKY’S FAMILY has received over 29 awards at film festivals worldwide. The film resonates with everyone, no matter what age or religion. Winton’s story is universal. It affirms that the action of one person can change the world we live in,” commented Neil Friedman, President of Menemsha Films, the film’s North American distributor.

To launch the South Florida release of NICKY’S FAMILY, the Center for Holocaust and Human Rights Education (CHHRE) at Florida Atlantic University (FAU)and Menemsha Films are bringing Nick Winton, the son of Sir Nicholas Winton, all the way from London to speak with students at area schools and movie-goers at theaters throughout Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County from January 5th – January 13th.

Martha Brown, program director and Dr. Rosanna Gatens, Director at CHHRE at Florida Atlantic University (FAU)have been waiting for a story like this for a long time.  Brown commented, “When we found out NICKY’S FAMILY would open in theaters here, we wanted to get behind the film because it inspires young people of all faiths to step-up and make a difference in the world.”

Anita Hoffer, President of The Florida Chapter of the Kindertransport Association (KTA), and others whose lives were spared by Kindertransport rescues, as well as second-generation members, will join Nick at speaking engagements. KTA unites child Holocaust refugees and their descendants, shares their stories, honors those who made the Kindertransport possible and supports charitable work that aids children in need.

Sir Nicholas Winton did not speak about these events with anyone for more than half a century. His exploits would have probably been forgotten had his wife, fifty years later, not found a suitcase in the attic, full of documents and transport plans.  Now 103 years old, Winton has been honored throughout the world for this rescue operation.

·         Sir Nicholas Winton was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 583 recognizing his remarkable deed.

·         Thousands of children in many countries have decided to follow in his footsteps, developing and carrying out charity projects, one group of students is helping to save the lives of undernourished and sick children in Cambodia and Africa.

·         120,000 children in the Czech Republic signed a petition to award Sir Nicholas Winton the Nobel Prize for Peace.

·         Dozens of Winton’s “children” have been found, and many have gone on to achieve great things themselves. Among those saved are the British film director Karel Reisz (The French Lieutenant’s Woman, Who’ll Stop The Rain, and The Gambler), Joe Schlesinger (Canadian journalist and CBC news correspondent), Ben Abeles (preeminent American scientist, co-inventor of the thermoelectric generator for the Voyager and Cassini spacecrafts), Lord Alfred Dubs (a former Minister in Tony Blair’s Cabinet), Alice Masters (former administrative director at the International Monetary Fund), Lady Milena Grenfell-Baines (a patron of the arts whose father, Rudolf Fleischmann, saved Thomas Mann from the Nazis), Dagmar Símová (a cousin of the former U.S. Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright), Tom Schrecker, (co-founder of Reader’s Digest), Hugo Marom (a famous aviation consultant, and one of the founders of the Israeli Air Force), Dr. Renata Laxova (a world expert in genetics and lecturer at the University of Wisconsin), and Vera Gissing (author of Pearls of Childhood and co-author of Nicholas Winton and the Rescued Generation).

Sir Nicholas Winton survived his wife Grete. He has a son Nick and daughter Barbara, and two grandchildren Laurence and Holly. He continues to be active in charity work.

Filmmakers Matej Minac and Patrik Pass set out to ensure that these fascinating, little-known stories and precious facts about the rescue mission are not lost to time. They show the unique phenomenon that has emerged from Sir Nicholas Winton’s story, how his courageous acts many years ago continue to influence people from all over the world and motivate them to do good.

Discussions with Nick Winton and Survivors of Florida Chapter of KTA will take place January 5 -13 at area schools and movie theaters.

School Visits include:  Park Vista High School, Boca Raton Community High School, Deerfield Middle School, Melaleuca Elementary, Logger’s Run Middle School, Wellington High School, Everglades High School in Miramar.

            Saturday, January 12, 7:00pm

            Movies of Delray

            7421 West Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach, FL 33446 · (561) 638-0020

            Tickets: $5.00

            Sunday, January 13 at 12:00, 12:05, 12:10 and 12:15

            Living Room Theaters at FAU Boca Raton

            777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431 · (561) 549-2600

            Tickets: $6.50 Students & Educators and Military (with ID) and Seniors,

            $7.50 Matinee. Tickets will only be available for sale online at http://fau.livingroomtheaters.com or at the box office

            Sunday, January 13 at 3:30PM

            The Last Picture Show at Tamarac 5

            10036 W. McNab Rd., Tamarac, FL 33321 -  (954) 726-3500

            Tickets:  $4

Starting January 11, the film begins regular theatrical showings at: Bill Cosford Cinema/Miami, The Last Picture Show in Tamarac, Cinema Paradiso in Fort Lauderdale, Living Room Theaters in Boca Raton, Movies of Delray in Delray Beach, and Movies of Lake Worth in Lake Worth and Mos’ Art in Lake Park.

About The Center for Holocaust and Human Rights Education (CHHRE) at Florida Atlantic University presents cutting-edge training and resources to teachers involved in Holocaust and genocide education. The Center offers workshops, advanced seminars, and summer institutes for K-12 teachers working in the fields of history, arts, languages, religion, science, technology, politics, and social studies. The (CCHRE) serves all schools in the counties of Broward, Palm Beach , Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River , Glades, and Okeechobee. The Center for Holocaust and Human Rights Education prepares teachers to implement the Florida mandate for Holocaust Education using historical data as well as lessons devised to stimulate discussions on ethics, individual responsibility, nonviolence, and conflict resolution. The Center’s goal is both to edify students about the Holocaust era, but also to apply their knowledge and analytical skills to the events of past and present genocides.

The Center for Holocaust and Human Rights Education is a member of the international Association of Holocaust Organizations, the Florida Commissioner’s Task Force on Holocaust Education, and the Save Darfur Coalition of South Palm Beach.

The Kindertransport Association (KTA) is a not-for-profit organization that unites child Holocaust refugees and their descendants.  The KTA shares their stories, honors those who made the Kindertransport possible, and supports charitable work that aids children in need.  Anita Hoffer, President of the Florida Chapter and the other Kinder relay their stories and with youth at area schools year-round.

NICKY’S FAMILY is a gripping documentary that tells the nearly forgotten story of Sir Nicholas Winton, an Englishman who organized the rescue of 669 Czech and Slovak children just before the outbreak of World War II.  Today, there are over 6,000 descendants. The film, from award-winning producers Patrik Pass and Matej Minac, features reenactments and never before seen archival footage.   Rescued children together with Sir Nicholas Winton recount the unique story that even after 70 years continues to inspire people, particularly our youth, to make this world a better place.  Renowned personalities, the Dalai Lama and Nobel Prize winner Elie Weisel are also featured in the film.

NICKY’S FAMILY has earned rave reviews from audiences and critics around the world, winning over 29 awards at festivals worldwide including 12 audience awards from U.S. film festivals. In South Florida, the film won the Audience Award for Best Documentary from the Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival in 2011.