UNITED NATIONS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION, NEW YORK TOLERANCE CENTER TO SCREEN ‘THE PIANIST’ ON 19 JULY AS PART OF HOLOCAUST OUTREACH PROGRAMME

Note to Correspondents

UNITED NATIONS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION, NEW YORK TOLERANCE CENTER TO SCREEN

‘THE PIANIST’ ON 19 JULY AS PART OF HOLOCAUST OUTREACH PROGRAMME

The United Nations Department of Public Information and the New York Tolerance Center will jointly screen on 19 July The Pianist, the second movie in the film series launched in connection with the Holocaust and the United Nations outreach programme.  The screening will take place at 6 p.m. in the Tolerance Center at 226 East 42nd Street.  The aim of the film series is to provide a forum for discussion by Member States and civil society partners, and to raise awareness of the Holocaust and the dangers of hatred, bigotry, racism and prejudice.

Directed by the famous filmmaker Roman Polanski, the movie is based on the autobiography of Wladyslav Szpilman, a Polish Jew and a celebrated pianist and composer who, during the Nazi occupation, evaded deportation and remained in the ravaged Warsaw Ghetto.  There, he fought to stay alive, even when separated from his loved ones, and confronted his fears with the aid from the unlikeliest source -- a Nazi officer who helped him hide during the final days of the war.  The Pianist won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and Oscars for directing, acting (Adrien Brody) and adapted screenplay in the year 2002.

The Holocaust and the United Nations outreach programme, as mandated by General Assembly resolution 60/7, aims to mobilize civil society for Holocaust remembrance and education, in order to help to prevent future acts of genocide.  The film series is being organized as part of that effort.  More information on the outreach programme can be found at www.un.org/holocaustremembrance.

The New York Tolerance Center, an educational arm for the Simon Wiesenthal Center, is a professional development multimedia training facility that provides educators, law enforcement officials and Government practitioners with interactive and experiential workshops, exhibits and videos to explore the issues of prejudice, diversity, tolerance and cooperation in the community.  The Simon Wiesenthal Center, associated with the Department of Public Information and the Economic and Social Council, works closely with several United Nations offices in these areas.  For more information, please visit www.toolsfortolerance.com.

As space for the screening is limited, please reserve your tickets by sending an e-mail message with your name and telephone number to holocaustremembrance@un.org.

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For information media • not an official record