ENJOY A COMPLIMENTARY GLASS OF WINE AND "PRZEKASKI" (FINGER FOOD) AFTER THE NSW PREMIERE SCREENING OF “THE MESSENGER” AT 7PM. PLEASE RETAIN YOUR TICKET TO RECEIVE YOUR FREE DRINK. 

​

Commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising, the largest resistance operation in German-occupied Europe, the Festival presents the New South Wales premiere of action spy thriller inspired by true events - The Messenger (AKA Kurier).

​

The Messenger tells the incredible true story of a real-life superhero – the legendary Courier from Warsaw, a Polish spy whose lonely mission was to decide the fate of Poland and World War II.

The new film by Władysław Pasikowski, director of hit movies Jack Strong and Pitbull. The Last Dog, is an action spy thriller inspired by secret missions of the famous Courier from Warsaw, Jan Nowak-Jeziorański. Pursued by hostile intelligence agencies, he became the Courier of the Chief Commander of Poland’s AK Home Army resistance and the Polish Government in Exile in London. As a messenger, he carried top secret information between Warsaw and London. He travelled through German occupied Europe a number of times, narrowly escaping capture. In England he met with Prime Minister Winston Churchill, providing reports on the situation in occupied Poland. During one of his missions in July 1944, he returned to Warsaw only a few days before the Warsaw Uprising broke out. During the Uprising he took an active part in fighting the Germans and also set up a radio station that maintained contact with Allied countries through daily broadcasts in Polish and English. After the Warsaw Uprising he managed to return to England while carrying microfilms documenting the 63 day struggle. His life is marked by courage and integrity and reflects the dramatic history of Poland. 

​

In the last days of July 1944 Home Army commanders in Warsaw are secretly deliberating whether to start a military uprising against the Germans. The key information is still missing - will Great Britain support an uprising with air drops and by sending a highly trained unit composed of Polish troops who had taken refuge in the UK and wanted to help the Poles at home in their struggle. The dangerous mission to travel from London to German-occupied Warsaw to deliver the crucial news to the Home Army is entrusted to the underground messenger, Jan Nowak (Philippe Tłokiński). Delayed by a series of unforeseen events and with the Gestapo trying to intercept him at all costs, Nowak must get back to Warsaw and inform Polish Commanders about Winston Churchill's refusal to assist its ally before the irreversible decision on uprising is made. 

​