"KARSKI AND THE LORDS OF HUMANITY" AWARDED THE LAVR
The documentary-animated film by Sławomir Grunberg, "Karski and the lords of humanity," won the prestigious Lavr award, called the Russian Academy Award for documentary film.
Before, "Karski and the lords of humanity" was screened in as many as 40 Russian cinemas and 10 cities. Russia was another country, in addition to Poland, the USA and Australia, where the film about the Polish hero was shown in cinemas.
The film by Grunberg was received very well in Russia. The story of Karski, the emissary who revealed to the Western Allies the atrocities and mass crimes of genocide, committed by the Nazis in Poland, was completely unknown in Russia. After the premiere screening of the film, received in total concentration by the audience, consisting of several hundred people in an overcrowded hall, and during the discussions with the audience, there was no lack of emotional questions and answers, often referring to the present. The film's producer, Dariusz Jabłoński, asked about the meaning of Karski's attitude for contemporary viewers, referred to the quote by Zbigniew Herbert: "The loss of memory of a nation is also a loss of its conscience."" He added: "Film-makers, and particularly documentary film-makers, have the duty to keep the memory, the memory based on truth. Jan Karski is an example of how much one person can do against totalitarianism."
"Karski and the lords of humanity" is a film by the eminent documentary film-maker and the winner of EMMY, Sławomir Grunberg, made using an innovative form, uniting the unique archival materials and animated sequences. The documentary film had its official première on April 23, 2015, on the eve of 101st anniversary of the birth of Jan Karski, and it opened in Polish cinemas the following day, getting excellent reviews from film critics and winning popularity among viewers. The first official screening of the film abroad was held in Jerusalem, on the occasion of 25th anniversary of the resumption of Polish-Israeli relations, and the co-organisers of the screening, prepared by the Polish Institute in Tel Aviv, were Yad Vashem and the World Jewish Congress. In the autumn of 2015, the film had its première at Georgtown University and came to American cinemas, getting excellent reviews.
"Karski and the lords of humanity" was produced by Apple Film Production and LOGTV in co-production with Polish Television, the National Centre for Culture Poland and the National Audiovisual Institute, TV Indie, the Foundation Past-Present and the Centre for Polish-Russian Dialogue and Understanding.
The full list of the award-winning films can be found here.
source: press release