This progress report is to update you on the latest developments regarding the full-length documentary film project Torn from the Flag, about the fall of communism and the significant global effects of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and Freedom Fight.

As many of you know, Torn from the Flag was selected by the AFI (American Film Institute) Film Festival, one of the most influential festivals in North America, and premiered on November 10, 2007 at the exquisite ArcLight movie theater in Hollywood, right in the film capital of the world. Vilmos Zsigmond welcomed the guests, who had flown in from all over the world: Budapest, Toronto, Cleveland, Seattle, Sarasota, San Diego and many other places. We were extremely excited to have a sold-out house. After working 9 years on my film, you can imagine how incredible it felt to see it on a big silver screen. After the showing and the standing ovation, there was a Q&A with the filmmakers. We felt very happy to see the positive response.

Due to cinematography legend Laszlo Kovacs' participation in Torn from the Flag, it was chosen for the Milestones section, described by the festival as "celebrating the best of the best." It was with pride that Torn from the Flag was screened along with Ingmar Bergman's and Michelangelo Antonioni's films.

We were in very prestigious company at AFI Fest. Some of the other producers, directors, actors and artists who were present at the festival and/or whose films were screened this year were: Catherine Deneuve, Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, Laura Linney, Tom Cruise, Phil Donahue, Jason Reitman, Javier Bardem, Liev Schreiber, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, John Turturro, Guillaume Depardieu, Tim Robbins, Liv Ullman and many others.

AFI Fest partners each year with the American Film Market (AFM), so it is the only concurrent festival/market event in North America. Each year over 8,000 attendees close more than $800 million in motion picture production deals, so we were happy to be invitees there too.

As if that did not make us busy (and sleep-deprived) enough, there was the Kodak Connect Program which offered filmmakers the opportunity to meet with notable representatives from all corners of the film community, and it also made other educational and networking opportunities available to us.

It is important to mention that AFI Film Fest is so prestigious that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences® recognizes the festival as a qualifying festival for the Short Films category for the annual Academy Awards® (Oscars®). AFI Fest is also known to provide a significant US platform for both national and international cinema as an awards-season kick-off event. Many films selected by the festival have since been recognized internationally with many nominations and awards—some with Oscars®.

The festival's publicity included television coverage by Access Hollywood, CNN, E! Entertainment Television, Entertainment Tonight, Current TV and Extra, in addition to Los Angeles-area network outlets. Magazine coverage in the past has included American Cinematographer, BlackBook, Los Angeles Magazine, Moviemaker, People, Premiere and US Weekly. Newspaper and trade coverage has included The Hollywood Reporter, LA WEEKLY, Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Screen International and Variety. Online coverage includes IndieWIRE, MovieFone, MySpace and LA.com.

Torn from the Flag also got its share of media coverage. You may read the wonderful reviews the film received here:

Before we got selected at AFI, we were already accepted at several other festivals, but given our un-refusable opportunity at AFI, we could not accept the following festivals' invitations this year: Ojai, Austin, Santa Fe, Fort Worth, Camerimage (Poland), Cinema Politica (Canada). However, at Camerimage and Ojai, an 8-minute preview excerpt was screened. In Ojai, Vilmos Zsigmond received a Lifetime Achievement Award during a lovely ceremony, and a special tribute was held to remember Laszlo Kovacs and his body of work. In addition, a documentary film is being made about Laszlo and Vilmos and their friendship, and I, as a filmmaker who worked with both of them, was interviewed for this other documentary.

I can't emphasize enough that without the North American Hungarian community and some other generous supporters the film could not have been made and gotten this far: thank you again and again and again for your contribution. I am extremely grateful. May your good deed come back to you.

We would like to thank the following this quarter for their donations: vitez Geza Bankuty, Moira Bengochea, Peter V. Czipott & Marisa Sorbello, Barbara L. & Charles J. Kleinschmitt, Iren Kovacs, Dr. Andrew Senyei, Peter G. Ulrich. Thanks to Leslie Eloed, Ben Esfandi, Laszlo Gaspar, Patrick Hostetter, Attila Karolyi, Atilla Kocsis, Maxim Leyzerovich, Janos & Anita Molnar, Zsofia Nemeth, Kevin Poore, Todd Tiberi, and Attila Veres for their kind assistance.

If we have your work email only, please send us your personal email as well. Many times people move on from jobs, and then we lose track of them and later get phone calls wondering why they are no longer updated about Torn from the Flag. So, please send us your personal email. Thanks!

If you were with us at the premiere or have seen the film, please take a few minutes to post your comments on imdb.com, which is an important film industry site. Your comment will help the film's distribution. Here is the link to start the comment process (which is a simple and short one): http://www.imdb.com/register/?why=comments

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Gratefully yours,
Klaudia Kovacs
Producer, Director, Writer
www.klaudiainc.com
klaudiakovacs@msn.com