Homage to Holocaust survivor-turned-watchmaker premiere at LA Short

Montrose, California - A short film based on the true story of a Polish Jew who survived a Nazi death camp by becoming a master watchmaker will premiere at the Oscar-qualifying LA Shorts International Film Festival on July 19 at 7:45 pm.

Watching Walter pays tribute to the life of Wladyslaw "Walter" Wojnas, who, at the tender age of fifteen, witnessed the murder of his family and was captured and forced into labor in a Nazi work-turned-extermination camp during World War II. From 1940 to 1945, he worked under the extreme authoritative hand of a Nazi Master Watchmaker, experiencing hunger, long hours of work, senseless beatings, and the devastation of bombings from the opposing Allied Powers.

Despite the immense hardships, Wojnas was determined to get back at his captors by obtaining as much knowledge as he could from them and becoming the best master watchmaker. His unyielding spirit in the face of unimaginable horrors allowed him to survive the camp and ultimately achieve his goal of a First Class Standard of Proficiency in Watchmaking.

The film, starring Stephen Tobolowsky, is set in both 1995 Philadelphia and in World War II Nazi-occupied Poland, touching on several key moments from Wojnas' life. After the war ended, Wojnaswas able to move to America and open a watch repair shop in Philadelphia's famous Jewelry District. He married his beloved wife Wieslawa (Vivian) in 1952 and, four years later, became an American citizen.

"Walter's story is a bittersweet one, filled with hope, loss, fortitude, love, and ultimately a message of tenacity and forgiveness in the face of insurmountable devastation," said Mitch Yapko, the film's award-winning director, whose own grandfather was a Polish Holocaust refugee. "It will hopefully serve as an aspirational reminder that we can do better, be better, and there's no better time than now to remind the world."

Wojnas lived a simple yet prosperous life in America until his death in 2009 at age 85. His workbench and tools are now featured in a special exhibition at the Hoffman Clock Museum in Newark, New York.

The award-winning scriptwriter, Montrose resident, Mark Dylan Brown, a Philadelphia native, learned about Wojnas from his childhood friend Roberto "Itchy" Ioannucci. The watchmaker shared his haunting, dehumanizing memories of the Stutthof concentration camp with Ioannucci and before his passing, asked his friend to share his story with the world.

After writing the script, Brown showed it to his wife, actress/producer Cynthia Gravinese, who was immediately taken with the importance of the story and the humanity of its main character. She agreed to be an executive producer alongside Brown, Ioannucci and Mark Aznavourian. The team recruited Yapko, a multi-award-winning writer, director and producer known for his heartfelt stories with unique characters, to direct the film.

"Watching Walter is a film meant to remind us all that only through tolerance do we have a future," said Brown. "To quote Elie Wiesel: I believe fervently that to listen to a witness is to become a witness...I became a witness for Walter."

The LA Shorts International Film Festival 2024 will run from July 17 to 28 at Regal LA Live. Watching Walter will be screened at the festival on July 19, during the program that starts at 7:45 p.m. For more information and tickets visit www.lashortsfest.com

For more information about Watching Walter visit www.watchingwalter.com