Salmanowitz Social Justice Film Screenings


The Jacques Salmanowitz Program for Moral Courage in Film is devoted to encouraging the production of film concerned with acts of moral courage, providing role models for youth worldwide. The Salmanowitz Program serves as a resource for student filmmakers across the disciplines who wish to create documentaries that will inspire future generations. The program is named for Jacques Salmanowitz, a Swiss businessman who was instrumental in bringing to safety in Switzerland individuals trapped behind German lines in World War II.

2019–2020 Documentaries

"Rena" by John Mohler
"Anti-Semitism in France" by Angelos Bougas
"From Vilnius to Vilnius" by Angelos Bougas
"Indonesia's Environment: Up Close" by Naren Briar
"Kicking on Rocks: Football in Cabo Verde" by Brandon Brito
"Mary Dyer: The Untold Story" Trailer by John Mohler and Annie Taylor

I would like to congratulate all the students who participated in the Salmanowitz Program this year with their productions. Despite the many obstacles the students faced, these films emerged to provide valuable insights on how other parts of the world face their many social, political, cultural and environmental challenges. Other documentaries from Israel/Palestine, Poland as well as Kenya could not be completed due to the current health crisis, but we do hope to screen them next year. Although our Salmanowitz program films have been cancelled for this summer for public health reasons, I encourage students to investigate the possibility of choosing a fitting and international social justice topic for the January Winter Break (TBD). The Program will provide $2500 for students’ expenses to travel, film, and edit a 20-min documentary, to be shown at the next Arts Festival.
Professor John Michalczyk, Director of the program and of Film Studies

"Rena" by John Mohler

Rena Finder shares her somber story of surviving one of the most devastating events in human history. She narrowly survives the horrors of Auschwitz through the help of Oskar Schindler. Rena compares the tragedies of the concentration camps to the conflicts between nations today.  

"There are strange things happening in this world... it sends me back to 100 years ago"
"We grew up overnight"
"There were some girls laughing at how horrible they looked; I didn't think it was funny"

John Mohler
Year filmed: 2019
Role: Producer, Director, Writer

"Anti-Semitism in France" by Angelos Bougas

A year ago, during the 74th anniversary of the Holocaust, in my surprise, I came across a story of an anti-Semitic incident that took place in France. After undertaking some research, I realized that there is a shocking trend; Anti-semitic attacks have increased over the past few years in Europe.

After realizing that there is a very common misconception among people regarding topics such as Zionism, anti-Semitism and the current state of far-right ideology, I decided to travel to France and make a more thorough investigation. France was my country of choice because it has the largest Jewish population in Europe, and more and more Jewish people are moving out of France, purely out of fear.

Despite the fact that this film fails to capture any first-hand anti-Semitic action on camera and get an insight on anti-Semitism from those who actually produce it, it’s an attempt to discuss from an objective perspective the history and current state of this worrisome trend.

"From Vilnius to Vilnius" by Angelos Bougas

I distinctly remember seeing one of Samuel Bak’s images as a child. Although I had no idea what I was looking at, the shapes of the objects in the paintings made an impression on me. The chess pawns had seemed disturbingly realistic. A few years later, I randomly met Samuel Bak in Boston. I heard his story, and after managing to get some funding, I decided to make a short film on his life. Once I learned about the street he grew up in, I booked my tickets for Vilnius!

The most fascinating aspect that highlights Bak’s story is that his life came a full circe: He was born in Vilnius, was one of the very few Lithuanian Jews to survive the Holocaust, and 70 years later, after a successful international career in painting, a museum was opened to honor his work back where he was born.

Angelos Bougas
Year Filmed: 2019
Location: Vilnius, Lithuania
Role: Producer, Director, Writer

"Kicking on Rocks: Football in Cabo Verde" by Brandon Brito

For many young athletes, football provides the opportunity to overcome hardships that may come with everyday life. Many young men and women have had the privilege to represent their homeland on some of the world’s biggest stages. But for many players and coaches living in the small West African country of Cape Verde, it’s a rocky road to the top. 

“Kicking on Rocks” explores the hardships and limitations of several football clubs residing in Cape Verde’s “sotavento” islands of Brava, Fogo, and Santiago (home of the capital city of Praia). 

"Mary Dyer: The Untold Story" Trailer by John Mohler and Annie Taylor

"Indonesia's Environment: Up Close" by Naren Briar