Slovak filmmaker presents excerpts from new film on Sir Winton

Prague, Nov 3 (CTK) - Slovak-born film producer and director Matej Minac Tuesday presented parts of Nickyho rodina (Nicky's Family), a new documentary he is working on that focuses on Nicholas Winton, a former British clerk who saved hundreds of Jewish kids from then Czechoslovakia before World War Two.

The long documentary will contain feature parts. It is to appear in Czech cinemas next May and it is to be presented at film festivals abroad.

"In the film I want to show how the example of one man, Sir Nicholas Winton who saved hundreds of Czechoslovak Jewish children, has positively influenced mainly young people all over the world. His [example] has stimulated them and they often decide to follow his example and do something," Minac said after the film screening today.

Nicholas Winton, who has received knighthood from the British Queen and the highest Czech state decoration, the Order of White Lion, from former Czech president Vaclav Havel, turned 100 this year.

Shortly before the war outbreak he saved 669 children, who would have otherwise hardly survived the Nazi rule, by organising their transfer from Prague to Britain and securing place for them in British families. He never spoke about his step by himself. For 50 years none of the saved children knew who they owed their survival to.

It was only historian Elisabeth Maxwell and later Minac, with his documentary Strength of Humanity, that helped disclose Winton's heroic deed in public.

The documentary, winning the Emmy prize and other awards seven years ago, still remains part of educational projects in 30 countries. It enhances young people's motivation to do good.

"We've uncovered new facts and stories meanwhile," Minac told CTK. Since summer 2008, he has shot 350 hours of documentary recordings and 11 hours of feature reconstructions all over the world. The personalities to appear in his new film include former U.S. secretary of state, Czech-born Madeleine Albright, Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel, the Dalai Lama and CNN leading reporter Christiane Amanpour, who witnessed children's suffering in numerous war conflicts.

"Nicky's family consists not only of five thousands of people who live in the saved children's families now. It also comprises all people of good will who want to do something positive," said Minac.