Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival to premiere ‘How “Holocaust” Came to TV’

The  Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival in partnership with the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany and American Jewish Committee (AJC) will premiere a virtual screening of the award-winning documentary “How ‘Holocaust’ Came to TV.’ 

Following the screening on Jan. 30, there will be a Q+A with director and producer Alice Agneskirchner alongside moderator Michael Berenbaum of the American Jewish University in Los Angeles.

The German documentary with English subtitles examines the making of the American TV miniseries, “Holocaust” and its broadcast and reception in Germany in 1978. Agneskirchner tells the story of this emotional television event, which led to a paradigm shift in the perception of German Nazi crimes. The film weaves series footage with interviews with the series’ director Marvin Chomsky (“Roots”), actors Michael Moriarty, Rosemary Harris and Tovah Feldshuh among others.

Agneskirchner told SoCal Jewish News she wanted to make the film because “In our history class we learned about World War II, but we didn’t reach [the Holocaust] so it was kind of a shock to me….[Then] all the students and all the teachers… were talking about [the show]. It became a debate and it was very important….Later on…as a filmmaker, I realized I had to do something. I have to fight for justice. I have to know history… and it just progressed from there.”

Ahead of the Q+A, Consul General Stefan Schneider of the German Consulate Los Angeles and Richard Hirschhaut, Director, AJC LA, will speak.

‘How “Holocaust” Came to TV’ is available to stream through Jan. 30. To purchase tickets to the virtual event, click here.