I am pleased to learn that the University and College Union (UCU) will be giving permission to the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust to add two UCU-made films - ‘The Holocaust’ (2012), to which I contributed, and ‘Journeys to Safety: Memories of the Kindertransport’ (2013) - to their list of resources. This is a great opportunity for the two films to reach a wider audience and is a great way to progress Holocaust education.
In the film ‘The Holocaust’ (2012), I share some of my family's tragic stories
with a wider public. Though it was difficult to talk about the
experiences of my family and the impact of these experiences, especially
on film, I think it is very important that we commemorate the Holocaust
annually and try to constantly raise awareness
of these critical issues. I think I have a particular responsibility in
this regard as an educator. After
all, if society is to change, it has to come through the education
system. So I hope that this film will continue to not only commemorate and honour
those killed in the Holocaust, but also stimulate thinking about
genocide, ethnic cleansing and racism more broadly.
The Holocaust: This film features UCU members who speak passionately about the impact of the Holocaust on their families and themselves. It won joint first prize for the TUC Communications Award in 2013.
Journeys to Safety: Memories of the Kindertransport: This film features three Kinder children (Lord Dubs, Ruth Barnett and John Fieldsend) who all gave their account of leaving their families via the Kindertransport.
---
In addition, the Jewish Human Rights Organisation, René Cassin, will be screening another film, Valley of Sighs, to mark Holocaust Memorial Week. My partner and I intend to attend the screening, as well as the Q&A with the film's writer and director afterwards, and to show our support for René Cassin's important work.
Between 1943 and 1945, the Nazis deported 25 000 Romani people to Transnistria. Half of them died of hunger, cold and other causes. This powerful documentary remembers a forgotten genocide - and provides historical context to the endemic discrimination that Gypsy, Roma and Travellers are still experiencing today.
Professor Rainer Schulze of the University of Essex will introduce the screening. Attendees will then have the chance to discuss the film with its Romanian writer and director, Mihai Andrei Leaha.
Event Details
Date: 31 January 2015
Time: Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start
Venue: Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL
Cost: £6
Book your tickets here.
