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Children of Leningradsky

SUBJECT: PROTECTION OF CHILDREN WITHOUT PARENTS

(2004, Poljska, 35 min)

Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary, Short Subject, this 35-minute documentary, takes an unblinking look at the reality of homeless children living in Russia today - in particular the ones who call the underground Leningradsky train station in Moscow home. Utilizing verité footage of over a dozen children who speak candidly about their lives, routines and lost dreams, the film captures the sobering reality of post-Soviet Russia, as kids are left behind, get booted out of their homes, turn into prostitutes, are abused, and run away. Though it has been making efforts to overcome this dire situation, the Russian system has yet to completely control it, as many young children (ages 8-16) continue to be swept into the abyss.
When this film was made, authorities estimated that some 30,000 children were living on the streets and railway stations of Moscow. The Children of Leningradsky concentrates on a dozen or so children living in the Moscow train station Leningradsky. Panhandling from strangers and sleeping among the rush of commuters, their wants are minimal. "We need some heat, food, a little money and nothing more," says one, forgetting that his daily diet also includes an unhealthy dose of vodka, cigarettes and glue sniffing. "When it is worst, we try to make money for food by prostitution," admits another.
Originally part of a project to bring money and aid to homeless youth, Polak and Celinski started filming this documentary as a non-profit initiative. The film has helped focus attention on this matter; since it was made, Russian authorities have stepped up their efforts to reduce homelessness in Moscow, though it's still a serious problem in other cities.

Hanna Polak was born in 1967 in Katowice, Poland. From 1987-88 she worked as a stage performer in the Theatre of Entertainment, Chorzov. In 1988-91 Hanna studied acting and theatre studies at the Acting School in Wroclav and Warsaw. Hanna has been involved in charitable activities in Russia since 1995. In 1997 Hanna founded and later collaborated with Active Child Aid to help the underprivileged children of Russia. Hanna uses her photography to help the Russian children. Her photographs have been printed in various magazines and newspapers including, Ogonyok (Russia), The Moscow Times (Russia), Avisa Norland (Norway), Olivia (Poland), Przekroj (Poland), Los Angeles Times (USA), Nowy Dziennik (USА), Kurier Plus (USA), Newsweek (Poland), Super Express (Poland) and others.
Her work as a freelance cinematographer has been featured on ABC TV, France-2, Fuji TV (Japan), ITN (England), TVN (Poland) and various Russian TV stations.
Her work is also featured on HBO and Canal +, Belgian Radio and TV and other TV channels.

In 2002 Hanna has received the award for The Best Producer of Documentary and Short Films at the Documentary Film Festival in Krakow.
In 2005 she was awarded the Crystal Mirror award by the Zwierciadlo magazine in Poland, the award for the "people of dialogue, those who are uniting, not dividing".
In 2005 Hanna was a jury member at the Documentary Film Festival in Krakow and she has received the "Platinum Goat" award at the festival "Ale Kino" in Poznan, Poland.
In 2004 her first independent short film on the life of legendary filmmaker Albert Maysles entitled, Al opened at the Documentary Film Festival in Krakow, Poland, where Albert Maysles received his Life-Time Achievement Award.

In 2004 Hanna completed her documentary film, The Children of Leningradsky. Film was nominated for an Oscar in the category of Best Short Documentary subject in 2005.
Hanna's additional works include, "My Warsaw - Look From The East" for ARTE TV and Channel 2 on Polish TV, where she worked as assistant to the director.
Currently, Hanna is producing a film about Leon Chec, an artist and soldier in WWII and a follow up film to The Children of Leningradsky about the children living in Moscow's garbage dumps.

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