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Avalon Theater Features New Acclaimed Documentary

(This article expired 08.06.2013.)

The Embassy of the Czech Republic, in collaboration with the Embassy of the Slovak Republic, will present at the Avalon Theater the screening of the highly acclaimed Nicky’s Family, a new feature-length documentary by director Matej Minac and producer Patrik Pass, which centers on one of the greatest rescue operations of all time and its lasting impact in today’s world.

Special guest Peter Rafaeli, Czech Honorary Consul General, will open the film along with embassy representatives on June 13 at 8 pm, as part of the Lions of Czech Film Series at the Avalon Theater.  

EVENT DETAILS:
Date:
Wednesday, June 13, 2012, at 8 pm        
Location: Avalon Theater, 5612 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20015
Tickets: www.theavalon.org or purchase at the box office directly.
Tickets are: $11 (adults); $9 (students); $8.25 (Seniors, 62+); $8 (Children, 12 and under); $6.75 (Avalon Members); and $5.75 (Seniors who are Avalon Members). For more information, call the box office at (202) 966-3464, or to hear general information about films playing at the Avalon, call (202) 966-6000.



About the film: NICKY'S FAMILY
(2011, Director: Matej Minac, Producer: Patrik Pass, in English)

Nicky's Family tells the story of Nicholas Winton, an Englishman who organized the rescue of 669 Czech and Slovak children just before the outbreak of World War II.

Winton, now 103 years old, did not speak about these events with anyone for more than half a century. His exploits would have probably been forgotten if his wife, fifty years later, hadn ́t found a suitcase in the attic, full of documents and transport plans. Today, the story of this rescue is known all over the world. He was knighted by the Queen Elisabeth II and the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 583 recognizing his remarkable deed. Winton's story is a very emotional one, and thousands of children in many countries have decided to follow in his footsteps and do something important. They think up various charity projects and even help in the saving of lives of undernourished and sick children in Cambodia and Africa. 120,000 children in the Czech Republic signed a petition to award Nicholas Winton the Nobel Prize for Peace. Dozens of Winton's "children" have been found and to this day his family has grown to almost 6,000 people, many of whom have gone on to achieve great things themselves.

It is incredible that all these people live due to the heroic deeds of one man – Sir Nicholas Winton.  Producers Matej Minac and Patrik Pass set out to ensure these fascinating, little-known stories and precious facts about the rescue mission are not lost to time. They wanted also to show the unique phenomenon that has emerged from 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. Their film demonstrates that members of Nicky's Family are not only the thousands of people who owe their lives to Sir Nicholas Winton, but also all those who want to do something positive for our world.

AWARDS:
"Nicky's Family" Wins NUMEROUS US Audience Awards!

Nicky's Family continues to wow audiences, winning audience awards from film festivals across the United States! In 2012, it has won audience awards at the Sedona International Film Festival, Pittsburgh Jewish Film Festival, Rockland County Jewish Film Festival, Hartford Jewish Film Festival, AJC Seattle Jewish Film Festival, Houston Jewish Film Festival, Charlotte Jewish Film Festival, Denver Jewish Film Festival, Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, and Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival.

The film has also won many international awards including the Grand Prix at the Zlin International Film Festival for Children and Youth 2012 (Czech Republic), Audience Award at the Zagreb Jewish Film Festival (Croatia), Best Documentary Film - the Slovak Film Critic's Award (Slovak Republic), Audience Award at the UK Jewish Film Festival (Great Britain), Audience Award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Czech Republic), among others.


Lions of Czech Film Series
This marks the sixth year of collaboration with the Avalon Theatre to present the Lions of Czech Film Series. This film series gives the Washington, DC, community an opportunity to view Czech films that are popular hits in Europe and have received numerous honors and awards at film festivals. Most of the films have received the prestigious Czech Lion Award, the Czech equivalent of an Academy Award. All of the films have limited distribution in the United States. The Lions of Czech FilmSeries offers an invaluable opportunity to see the best of Czech cinema in the nation’s capital.