Canadian Documentary "Childhood DENIED" Premieres on OMNI BC (English language version)
March 4, 2010 - Toronto, ON – OMNI Television is proud to present the world television premiere of Childhood DENIED as part of its Signature Series. The 60 minute documentary launches its English language version on OMNI BC, Sunday, March 14th at 10:00 p.m. PT.
Childhood DENIED, produced and directed by Myra Dziama of Visual Edge Productions and Ania's Journey Inc., follows a group of Polish children during WW II and tells their story through the eyes of a fictitious character named “Ania.” From the slave labour camps in Siberia to their refuge in Tanganyika and their eventual new life in Canada, Ania’s experience personifies the long and arduous journey of those Polish orphans for whom childhood had been denied.
“The Post War experience in Canada fundamentally contributed to Canadian Multiculturalism,” says Madeline Ziniak, National Vice President of OMNI Television. “Childhood DENIED is a dramatic portrayal of victory over hardship, a path with which a lot of us can identify.”
Shot in Canada, the USA and Poland, Childhood DENIED utilizes authentic locations throughout, including: a cattle car used to deport people to Siberia, Majdanek concentration camp in Lublin and a country home in Eastern Poland.
In addition to featuring real-life locations, Childhood DENIED combines archival footage and images with present-day interviews to knit together the past and the present. Interviews feature such notable authorities as:
• Father Lucjan Krolikowski, recipient of The Commander’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, (awarded by President Lech Kaczynski of the Republic of Poland) and author of Stolen Childhood, A Saga of Polish War Children; and
• Dr. Lynne Taylor, author of The Polish Children of Tengeru.
“I was fortunate that Marek Ciesielczuk, Consul General of the Republic of Poland, wanted very much to host Childhood DENIED and did so with great pride,” says Myra Dziama, Producer/director of the project. “Ania’s journey in Childhood DENIED, reminds us of the human willpower, determination and courage behind the diverse multicultural Canada we enjoy today, and I am grateful to OMNI Television for their support in helping me tell this story.”
Childhood DENIED was exclusively funded through OMNI's Independent Producers Initiative, a $32.5 million independent production fund that to date has supported over 400 new documentary programmes. Interested producers can access funding criteria at OMNI Television’s web site www.OMNItv.ca .
About the producer/director:
Myra Dziama, a graduate of the University of Toronto, has over 20 years of experience in film and television production. Her broadcast credits include OMNI Television, Stornoway Communications – ichannel and The Pet Network, TVOntario – TVO and TFO, Life Network, HGTV, CTS Crossroads Television Systems, Radio-Télévision Suisse-Romande and NHK Japan. As the founder of Toronto-based Visual Edge Productions and Ania’s Journey Inc., she has focused on non-fiction, documentary programming and numerous television series, and brings her expertise to all in three languages. Myra Dziama was born in Canada and learned about the history, culture and passion immigrants bring to Canada from her father and mother, who emigrated from Poland after WW II.
About OMNI Television:
OMNI™ is a free, over-the-air multilingual/multicultural television system committed to positive portrayal and broadcast reflection of Canada’s diversity through the airing of inclusive and accessible programming. With five television stations -- in BC; Alberta (Calgary and Edmonton) and Ontario (OMNI.1 and OMNI.2) – OMNI reaches more than 23 million people in major market areas. As well as specializing in Canadian multilingual/ multicultural programming, OMNI carries well-known International series and films – including East Asian Super Cinema and South Asian Bollywood Freetime Movies. OMNI Television is a part of Rogers Broadcasting Limited., a division of Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX: RCI and NYSE: RCI) which is a diversified Canadian communications and media company. For more information visit www.OMNItv.ca
OMNI Media Contact:
Veronica Logue – Publicity Manager, 416-764-3196, veronica.logue@rci.rogers.com
Sandy Zwyer – Programme Information Coordinator, 416-764-3085, sandy.zwyer@rci.rogers.com
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