CHILDREN OF LENINGRADSKY - Film Screening

The Children of Leningradsky was nominated for an Academy Award® in the category of Best Short Documentary subject in 2004.  Currently, Hanna is producing a film about Leon Chec, an artist and soldier in WWII and a follow up film to The Children of Leningradsky about the children living in Moscow\'s garbage dumps. (see attached for more info about the filmmaker)
 
7 ½ Cinema is the Chopin Theatre based initiative that regularly presents film screenings with various film groups.  The debut of 7 ½ Cinema began with "A Tribute to Ingmar Bergman" with Chicago Cinema Forum (as well as the premiere India Matri Bhumi) and included presentations with Chicago Underground Film Festival; Split Pillow Productions and Chicago Filipino American Film Festival.  Chopin Theatre is an independent arts center in the heart of Chicago\'s artistic neighborhood, Wicker Park founded in 1990.

Organized by Chopin Theatre\'s 7 ½ Cinema. Polish Dir Oscar Nominated Screening Apr 6th 730p

Date/Time: Sunday, April 6th 730pm followed by discussion with filmmaker Hanna Polak and complimentary reception

Tickets: Free; reservations at 773.278.1500
Location: Chopin Theatre - 1543 W Division in Chicago
Transit: Blue Line Train: Division exit Bus: 9 Ashland, 56 Milwaukee, 70 Division
More info: Additional information, fotos and films available upon request
Contact: Zygmunt Dyrkacz, 773.278.1500 or info@chopintheatre.com
Support: Screening is supported in part by Consulate General of Republic of Poland in Chicago and WDT International.

About the filmmaker:

Hanna Polak was born in 1967 in Katowice, Poland.  From 1987-88 she worked as a stage performer in the Theatre of Entertainment, Chorzov.  In 1988-91 Hanna studied acting and theatre studies at the Acting School in Wroclav and Warsaw. Hanna has been involved in charitable activities in Russia since 1995. In 1997 Hanna founded and later collaborated with Active Child Aid to help the underprivileged children of Russia. Hanna uses her photography to help the Russian children. Her photographs have been printed in various magazines and newspapers including, Ogonyok (Russia), The Moscow Times (Russia), Avisa Norland (Norway), Olivia (Poland), Przekroj (Poland), Los Angeles Times (USA), Nowy Dziennik (USŔ), Kurier Plus (USA), Newsweek (Poland), Super Express (Poland) and others.  Her work as a freelance cinematographer has been featured on ABC TV, France-2, Fuji TV (Japan), ITN (England), TVN (Poland) and various Russian TV stations.  Hanna\'s additional works include, "My Warsaw - Look From The East" for
ARTE TV and Channel 2 on Polish TV, where she worked as assistant to the director.

In 2002 Hanna began her studies in the Cinematography division of The Cinematography School of Moscow.   That same year she received the award for The Best Producer of Documentary and Short Films at the Documentary Film Festival in Krakow.  In 2004 Hanna completed work on her first independent short film on the life of legendary filmmaker Albert Maysles entitled, Al. Al first opened at the Documentary Film Festival in Krakow, Poland, where Albert Maysles received his Life-Time Achievement Award.  In 2005 she was awarded the Crystal Mirror award by the Zwierciadlo magazine in Poland, the award for the "people of dialogue, those who are uniting, not dividing".

Currently, Hanna is producing a film about Leon Chec, an artist and soldier in WWII and a follow up film to The Children of Leningradsky about the children living in Moscow\'s garbage dumps.
 
Zygmunt Dyrkacz
Chopin Theatre