Jack Strong by Władysław Pasikowski to represent Poland at the EUphoria Film Festival in LA

with the screening of the Polish movie “Jack Strong”on Saturday, September 20th, 2014 at 7:00 pm 

The USC School of Cinematic Arts

The Ray Stark Family Theatre 

The most spectacular Polish spy of the Cold War era, colonel Ryszard Kuklinski, informs Americans about the communist block's top secrets in the face of the upcoming martial law.

Jack Strong is a spy thriller based on a true story of a man who dared to challenge the Soviets by himself from within the communist system. As a Polish colonel and chief military planner of the maneuvers of the Warsaw Pact troops, he realized that the American plan of nuclear counterattack against the Soviets may bring nuclear annihilation to Poland. Determined to prevent that, he started a long, lonely and psychologically exhausting cooperation with the CIA. His own, as well as his family’s lives have been in jeopardy since then. The script is based on an international historical research, partly conducted in cooperation with the CIA. For this purpose, some crucial documents kept in the Institute of National Remembrance were declassified, including a testimony by colonel Ryszard Kukliński gathered at the moment when the case of his exoneration became one of the conditions for Poland’s accession to NATO. The list of the project’s consultants includes some high-profile figures, among them: Zbigniew Brzeziński - National Security Advisor to Jimmy Carter, Jerzy Koźmiński - former Polish ambassador in the USA, and David Forden – CIA’s contact officer of colonel Kukliński.

http://euphoriafilmfest.com/jack-strong/

The inaugural EUphoria Film Festival provides an opportunity for enthusiasts of international cinema in Los Angeles to celebrate and discover contemporary films from across the European Union, featuring award-winning films and domestic box office hits from 13 participating countries of the EU. EUphoria is dedicated to promoting European film culture and the European Union in the United States by expanding awareness of the rich heritage and diversity of cinemas from Europe.

The 2014 edition is comprised of feature length dramatic and documentary films from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg and Poland.

“Culture plays an important role in conveying European identity and values: liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law,” said João Vale de Almeida, the EU Ambassador to the United States. “Since the EU's very beginning, we have been a community based on these common principles, which guide Member States and citizens as they live, work, and interact with each other, with neighbors, and with the wider world.”

PROGRAM: 

FRI, Sept 19th (Opening night) 

7pm – GREECE: Little England, catered reception to follow

 Norris Cinema Theatre

By Invitation Only

SAT, Sept 20th 

2pm – IRELAND: The Irish Pub

Norris Cinema Theatre

4pm – LITHUANIA: The Other Dream Team, Q&A to follow

 The Ray Stark Family Theatre

5pm – CZECH REPUBLIC: Clownwise, Q&A to follow

 Norris Cinema Theatre

7pm – POLAND: Jack Strong, Q&A to follow

 The Ray Stark Family Theatre

8pm – BELGIUM: Flying Home, Q&A to follow

 Norris Cinema Theatre

SUN, Sept 21st 

2pm – AUSTRIA: Taking it Back

 Norris Cinema Theatre

4pm – LUXEMBOURG: Blind Spot / Mr. Hublot

 The Ray Stark Family Theatre

5pm – GERMANY: The Strange Little Cat

 Norris Cinema Theatre

7pm – BULGARIA: The Color of the Chameleon

 The Ray Stark Family Theatre

8pm – CROATIA: Sonja and the Bull, Q&A to follow

 Norris Cinema Theatre

 TUE, Sept 23rd 

7pm – FINLAND: Sel8nne

 The Ray Stark Family Theatre

 WED, Sept 24th (Closing night)

7pm – ITALY: Discovery at Dawn, Q&A to follow

 The Ray Stark Family Theatre 

Learn more about the screenings and book tickets online at  http://euphoriafilmfest.com/

About The USC School of Cinematic Arts

The University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts is one of the leading media schools in the world. Founded in collaboration with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1929, over 85 years ago, the USC School of Cinematic Arts has fueled and mirrored the growth of entertainment as an industry and an art form. The School offers comprehensive programs in directing, producing, writing, critical studies, animation and digital arts, production, interactive media and games, all backed by a broad liberal arts education and taught by leading practitioners in each field. Its more than 11,000 alumni are among the world’s most distinguished animators, scholars, teachers, writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, editors, sound experts and industry executives. Since 1973 not a year has passed without an alumnus or alumna being nominated for an Academy Award. https://cinema.usc.edu/

About European Languages and Movies in America (ELMA)

ELMA (European Languages and Movies in America) is a Santa Monica-based nonprofit organization dedicated to showcasing European movies. www.ELMA.org