(St. Louis – September 2, 2010)—The St. Louis Holocaust Museum & Learning Center and the St. Louis Soldiers Memorial announce a new film partnership with Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Christian Cudnik and Triptone Productions to produce a 60-minute documentary, “Bearing Witness: Liberator Stories of World War II.”  The purpose of the film is to document the stories of military men and women of the St. Louis area who helped liberate the Jews in Europe during World War II.

 “This year marks the 65^th anniversary of the end of World War II so it is important to capture the memories of those who were there, both the GIs and the liberated.  The stories these men and women have to tell, the messages they have to impart, are crucial to understanding what happened so that it does not happen again,” said Cudnik, producer/director of the documentary.  “We are looking for military personnel who were actively engaged in liberating the camps to interview them about their experience.”

Those who had a hand in liberating camps during World War II, or who followed shortly after to help care for those held in the camps, are encouraged to contact either Jean Cavender at the Holocaust Museum and Learning Center at jcavender@Jfedstl.org or 314-442-3715 or Lynnea Magnuson at Soldiers Memorial at magnusonl@stlouiscity.com or 314-622-4550 (x 3).   

The St. Louis Holocaust Museum & Learning Center

The Museum conducts tours and chronicles events before, during, and after the Holocaust featuring artifacts and testimonies from St. Louis’ local Holocaust Survivor population.  A visit can be a life-changing event. The Museum is a department of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis

City of St. Louis, Soldiers Memorial Military Museum

The mission of Soldiers Memorial is to serve veterans and, through the museum, to tell their stories.  Opened by the City of St. Louis on Memorial Day 1938, the collection features objects exhibited to show the wartime experience, both battle front and home front, with a focus on the St. Louis region.  Free to visit every day of the week:  Monday through Friday, 9 am to 4:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 3 pm.   www.stlsoldiersmemorial.org

Christian Cudnik and Triptone Productions

Triptone Productions is a St. Louis-based production company of radio, television, and film. Just as a curator of a museum would present an exhibition, Triptone Productions explores and celebrates historical influences of art, culture, and history. Also, Cudnik is the Voice of the “St. Louis Symphony” Saturday evening broadcasts that will begin at 8 p.m., Sept. 18 on St. Louis Public Radio 90.7 KWMU.  For more information visit, www.triptone.com.