Visualizing the Past, a Lesson of Today
MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2022, 10:30 AM PT / 1:30 PM ET
Dr. Kori Street will lead a dialogue between film producers and scholars related to two short films, both of which will be shown during the presentation. The films are: “CARRY ON,” to give voice to those silenced, Shoah artists, enabling them to be heard today; “SHOES,” a short film on the Holocaust, or in fact, any Genocide, and any dramatic acts of Hate.
Dr. Kori Street, Interim Finci-Viterbi Executive Director, USC Shoah Foundation
Dr. Kori Street, Interim Finci-Viterbi Executive Director, has spent a decade leading the Institute’s academic, education and administration initiatives which reach scholars, educators and students in 80 countries. Dr. Street currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Association of Holocaust Organizations and as a member of the Education Working Group of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.
Konstantin Fam, Writer and Director of "Shoes"
Konstantin Fam aka Costa Fam is a Russian independent director, producer, screenwriter. The film "Shoes" is the first novel of the trilogy "Witnesses." "Witnesses" is the first feature film in former Soviet Union produced in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. "Shoes" traces the personal history of a Jewish girl from the point of view of a pair of red shoes. Starting from the shop window where the shoes were purchased and ending at a mountain of discarded shoes of the victims, the viewer witnesses the effects of the tragedy of fascism. The film is the winner of many awards and film festivals. The film was awarded the Gran Prix Silver Reel at the 8th International Video Festival Empire (Italy). This festival is held under the patronage of UNESCO and listed as one of the 13 most important festivals in the world that support the cultural heritage and education. The festival presents 721 works from 52 countries. "Shoes" was the only nominee from Russia for the Academy Awards in the short film category in 2013.
Clint Burkett, Producer
As a multi-award-winning documentary filmmaker, Clint started as a production assistant and Music Supervisor in Hollywood, and at 18, worked on psychic phenomena documentaries. Now, with over 30 years working in television and as a documentary filmmaker, video producer and editor, Clint enjoys telling stories that involve music, art, and history. He spent ten years editing local TV News and nine years editing magazine format shows. Some of his most recent work includes a short documentary about a Dutch Resistance fighter in WWII, the life story of singer-songwriter, Steve White, and a short documentary about Hawaiians from Maui healing the town of Parkland, Florida. He has also worked for Soka University on concert documentaries, with many Jazz legends, in an effort to preserve Jazz music. His work has been seen locally and internationally. IMDB Film Credits www.timelin3studios.com
Alan Markowitz, IMAX® Filmmaker/VFX Producer
As an award-winning industry veteran, with over 40 years of film production experience, Alan specializes in “Giant-Screen” documentaries. His work can be seen in more than 300 film productions exhibited on IMAX® screens, destination cinemas, theme parks, and in special venues around the world. With a long list of successful IMAX® feature film credits, Alan has set the bar for achieving and maintaining the “Gold-Standard” caliber of filmmaking that is essential for the giant-screen experience. Alan is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Art & Sciences Tech-History Sub-Committee, a charter member of the Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA), and Charter Member of the Visual Effects Society, (VES). IMDB Film Credits www.visceralimageprods.com
Jacqueline Gmach, WE ARE THE TREE OF LIFE founder
WE ARE THE TREE OF LIFE© is Jacqueline Gmach. Jacqueline has dedicated her life to the furtherance of Jewish culture. Born in Tunisia, Jacqueline is one of the Project Directors for USC Shoah Foundation, and she previously curated several Jewish events in San Diego, including the renowned San Diego Jewish Book Fair. Jacqueline has authored “From Bomboloni to Bagel: A Story of Two Worlds” and the upcoming novel, “The Antiphonary of Love: The Call of The Scroll.”
The concept of WE ARE THE TREE OF LIFE emerged from her response to the massacre at the Pittsburgh Tree of Life Synagogue on October 27, 2018. She was horrified as she read about Rose Malinger, the oldest, 97-yr. old victim of this tragedy. She then realized; WE are ALL Rose Malinger! Jacqueline saw a strong connection between the synagogue massacre and the Holocaust, realizing that those tragedies contain both the stain of virulent antisemitism along with tremendous moral courage and perseverance of the victims. In the concentration camps and ghettos, many victims survived by producing remarkable works of art, music, literature, and dance, whose stories needed her help to share with the world. Jacqueline’s vision for the organization, WE ARE THE TREE OF LIFE, is to support this mission and demonstrate the important lessons of moral courage and perseverance, and to emphasize the role in which cultural expression nurtures respect, acceptance, and peace.
More about WE ARE THE TREE OF LIFE
WE ARE THE TREE OF LIFE is dedicated to education on the Holocaust through music and the performing arts. The goal is to both instruct students, and inspire teachers harnessing the educational properties of in-house-created films, with the message of peace, unity and love that includes life stories and lessons from people who never gave up hope, under the most trying of circumstances. The organization is committed to showcasing the astonishing creativity of Shoah composers, artists and writers, despite the brutality and inhumane conditions under which they produced their work.
