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Press Release

July 1, 2001

Jacky and Lisa Comforty

have been awarded their third

CINE GOLDEN EAGLE

for their documentary film,

THE OPTIMISTS:

The Story of the Rescue of the Bulgarian Jews from the Holocaust

Director: Jacky Comforty
Producers: Jacky and Lisa Comforty
Executive Producer: Pierre Sauvage
Writers: Jacky and Lisa Comforty
Editors: Jacky Comforty and Lissa Oliver

The Optimists was also Co-Winner of the Peace Prize,
International Forum of New Cinema, Berlin International Film Festival 2001

First Prize Winner in the category of "Documenting the Jewish Experience,"
Jerusalem International Film Festival 2000

Other Comforty Media Concepts Golden Eagle Awards

Through a Glass, Lightly; for Terra Museum of American Art (1997))

In The Shadow of Memory (1998)

The Optimists tells the virtually unknown story of how the fifty thousand Jews living in Bulgaria survived the Holocaust despite intensive Nazi efforts to deport them to death camps.

Fifty thousand people didn't die because Bulgarian Christians and Muslims found ways to protect Jews from their would-be murderers. Individuals and organizations made a difference.

Ordinary people stood up for their Jewish friends and neighbors. The Church, certain Bulgarian Parliament members, Communists, trade unions, professional guilds, and the Jewish community itself all helped defeat the Nazis' orders for mass deportations and the Bulgarian governments attempts to comply with those orders.

Bulgaria's experience offers valuable insight into how we can mobilize to protect human rights and civil rights. It is not only a Jewish story. It is a universal one, powerful in its ability to inform and inspire all audiences.

For more information contact Comforty Media Concepts,
Tel: 847-475-0791, comforty@comforty.com, www.comforty.com

Distributed by New Day Films
www.newday.com