Press Release – Holocaust Awareness Museum and Education Center to screen two important Holocaust-related films

Holocaust Awareness Museum and Education Center to screen two important Holocaust-related films

May 4, 2017 The Holocaust Awareness Museum and Education Center of Philadelphia will host screenings of two important Holocaust-related films, each coupled with Q&A sessions with the respective filmmakers.  “Rescue in the Philippines” will be screened on Sunday, June 4 at 4:00 p.m. at Gratz College, and “Trezoros – The Lost Jews of Kastoria” will be screened on Monday, June 19 at 7:00 p.m. at the National Museum of American Jewish History. Both events are free and open to the community. June 4 – “Rescue in the Philippines” – Sunday, June 4, 2017 – 4:00 p.m. at Gratz College, 7605 Old York Rd, Elkins Park, PA “Rescue in The Philippines” is the one-hour documentary of how the five Frieder brothers, Cincinnati businessmen making two-for-a-nickel cigars in pre-WWII Manila, together with Manuel Quezon, the charismatic first president of the Philippines, Paul McNutt, U.S. High Commissioner and former governor of Indiana (preparing for his own presidential campaign), and an ambitious U.S. Army Colonel named Dwight Eisenhower, helped 1,300 Jews escape the Nazis and immigrate to the Philippines. “Rescue” aired over 2,000 times on over 375 PBS stations across the country – including, of course, on WHYY in Philadelphia. Reviewed in the New York and LA Times, “Rescue” also qualified for Oscar consideration. Following the screening, the audience will have the opportunity to meet and speak with Richard and Samuel Frieder, whose father was one of the five brothers; and Peggy Ellis, senior producer of the film and a granddaughter of another Frieder brother. Co-sponsored by Gratz College. June 19 – “Trezoros- The Lost Jews of Kastoria” – Monday, June 19, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. at the National Museum of American Jewish History, corner of 5th & Market Street Philadelphia, PA The story is set in the beautiful, idyllic city of Kastoria where Jews and Christians lived in harmony for over two millennia. In October of 1940 it would all be destroyed after the invasion of Greece by Axis forces. Initially occupied by Italy, the Jewish community remained safe. After Mussolini fell from power the Nazis took control of the town, dooming the community that had existed since the times of the Roman Empire. The film uses never before seen archival footage, vibrantly bringing to life just one of the many Jewish communities that had existed in Greece before the end of World War II. “Trezoros” (a Ladino/Judeo Spanish term of endearment meaning “Treasures”) is a highly emotional story told by its survivors, with interviews filmed on location in Kastoria, Thessaloniki, Athens, Tzur Moshe, Tel Aviv, Miami, Los Angeles and New York. Please join us after the screening for a dessert reception & an opportunity to speak with Larry Confino & Lawrence Russo – filmmakers of Trezoros: The Lost Jews of Kastoria. This event is presented in partnership with the National Museum of American Jewish History. Reservations are recommended for both events by calling HAMEC at 215-464-4701 or email shelley@hamec.org. OUR GOAL: The Holocaust Awareness Museum, located at 10100 Jamison Ave., Suite 210, Philadelphia, PA, is the premier provider of Holocaust education programs in the Delaware Valley.  In the last school year alone, HAMEC completed nearly 500 programs and reached over 43,000 students. The museum has been dedicated to educating students about of the consequences of intolerance and hate.  Each year museum programs reach thousands of students through Holocaust survivor presentations, school visits, videos, and plays such as the Anne Frank Theater Project. The Holocaust Awareness Museum and Education Center is a non-profit organization supported by grants from the Conference on Material Claims Against Germany, government and foundation grants, and also private donations. For more information contact: Shelley Rappaport, Program Director, Holocaust Awareness Museum and Education Center of Philadelphia, shelley@hamec.org (215) 464-4701