Bereza Kartuzka Wins Platinum Remi Award

Houston – The documentary film Bereza Kartuzka, produced and directed by Yurij Luhovy, won first prize, the Platinum Remi Award, at the 43^rd annual WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival.  “I was thrilled that it was nominated. To have won first prize, was amazing. I am happy that the prisoners of Bereza Kartuzka will be remembered”, Luhovy stated.  The Platinum Remi Award, for the category of “Politics and International Issues” was announced by festival organizer Hunter Todd and presented at the Remi Awards Gala Dinner held on April 17 with the director present.  WorldFest-Houston is the 3^rd oldest International Film Festival in North America and is dedicated to the independent, feature and short film. Founded in 1961, the festival does not accept films from major studios.

    The English language version of Bereza Kartuzka is narrated by Canadian filmmaker Paul Almond. Among those to whom WorldFest has given honours in the past are Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Brian DePalma and many more.

A special screening of Bereza Kartuzka held at the French Alliance Centre in Houston on April 16, was organized by Myxhaijlo Balahutrak of the Houston Ukrainian Cultural Centre. Remarkably, even at this Houston showing, children of survivors, Bohdan Bejmuk and his brother Alexander, whose father was taken as prisoner, were present. The next showing will be organized soon in Dallas.

    To arrange for a showing of Bereza Kartuzka (English or Ukrainian version) or to purchase a DVD of the documentary write to: MML Inc, 2330 Beaconsfield Ave., Montreal, Quebec, H4A 2G8, call (514) 481-5871 or visit Web site www.yluhovy.com. Proceeds from sales go to help offset costs of making the documentary.

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(L. to R.): Myxhaijlo Balahutrak, Lydia Bodnar-Balahutrak – screening organizers – with filmmaker Yurij Luhovy and Andriy Litvynchuk, President of the Ukrainian Cultural Centre of Houston