"Ambassador of Remembrance": The story of a World War II survivor arrives in Cineplexx cinemas in October

"Ambassador of Remembrance", a powerful documentary about World War II witness Stanislaw Zalewski, who survived three Nazi concentration camps, will be screened at Cineplexx cinemas in Belgrade this October. 

Through this poignant film by Magdalena Želasko, Zalewski revisits his memories, sharing his story with the audience. "I packed my memories in a waterproof box, wrapped it with string, and threw it into the water. And occasionally I take it out, but after using the contents, I throw the box back into the water", said this almost hundred-year-old survivor of the concentration camps. 

The documentary follows the life of Zalewski, reconstructing his story through photographs, documents, and visits to the places where he spent a total of 600 days - the most difficult in his life. In the captivating 100-minute film, this charismatic witness tells not only about his traumatic experiences but also about the surprising everyday aspects of life in a concentration camp. 

Born in Warsaw on October 1, 1925, Zalewski endured harrowing experiences in three Nazi concentration camps after being arrested at the age of 17 for resisting the Nazi regime in occupied Poland. Like many survivors, he has been trying to talk about his painful experiences for years. 

Whether at the March of the Living in Auschwitz-Birkenau, the commemoration in Mauthausen, or the visit to the Gusen concentration camp, it is obvious how deeply Zalewski is committed to the principle of "Never Again". He remains actively engaged as the president of the Polish Association of Former Prisoners of Hitler's Political Prisons and Concentration Camps. "We will live as long as those who remember us," says Zalewski. 

As one of the last active witnesses to the Gusen concentration camp in Upper Austria, Zalewski is committed to establishing a proper memorial at this site of Nazi atrocities, a long-overlooked chapter in Austrian history. 

After the Austrian premiere, which took place on September 1, "Ambassador of Remembrance" will be shown in Cineplexx cinemas in Serbia (Cineplexx Galerija Beograd and Cineplexx Ušće Shopping Center, from October 9), North Macedonia (Cineplexx Skopje, from mid-October) and South Tyrol, Italy (Cineplexx Bozen, from October 8). 

Thanks to the support of Cineplexx, the film will also be shown in other countries from January 2025, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro, Romania, and Slovenia. 

Educational initiatives 

In all these countries, the film will be available as part of the school cinema program, with significantly reduced ticket prices for school groups and free entry for accompanying teachers. This initiative aims to engage the younger generation in understanding history in order to prevent the mistakes of the past from being repeated. 

Stanislav Zalewski's film journey represents a unique opportunity for the audience to unite in solidarity against fascism, racism, anti-Semitism, and xenophobia. Audiences can hope to leave the cinema not only moved, but also determined to ensure that such crimes never happen again. 

Zalewski will participate in selected film premieres and answer questions from the audience via video call from Poland. He will also be available for press inquiries, including interviews. 

The film was produced by the LET'S CEE Film Festival Association. 

For more information about the film and its protagonist, visit the film's official website: www.never-again.site.