News
More on the Possible Role of the KGB and Moscow-Trained Officers
January 12, 2016
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Dragoş Petrescu, President of the CNSAS/Securitate Archives in Bucharest, 2010 |
Excerpt from an interview with Dragoş Petrescu, President of the Securitate (Former Romanian Secret Police) Archives (CNSAS – www.cnsas.ro) done on November 17, 2010, at the CNSAS in Bucharest, and recorded on audio tape. The interviewer is the author, Árpád Szőczi.
Árpád Szőczi: Did you ever see any evidence of the role of the KGB during December, 1989?
Dragoş Petrescu: “Well, this is actually a very interesting issue. In our archives this is the most called information about the ’89, the law. For three reasons: First, we have many orders – verbal orders and not written, and evidence was destroyed. And was destroyed because many of the files were operative files or open at the moment.
But are you saying that that might have something to do with information on the KGB being lost?
“Okay, but it’s a problem now, with the conspiracy theories, there are lots, including the Securitate also says – those who write their memoirs are extremely good, and they are really diligent in writing down their memoirs, and whatever happened in December was the result of an international conspiracy where the KGB played a major role. Not so much the Americans or – I don’t know - the Israelis or others. Now, as far as I am concerned, our law and the documents are allowed to be researched (unintelligible). But it is not enough. I would very much suggest that you – or perhaps via a translator – read the memoirs of Ion Iliescu and many others who were the first coming into government, in the National Salvation Front. Especially the dates of 22nd of December – 25th of December is crucial. Let me say – because this is very important – and it’s already some consistent information about the army officers, and not the Securitate officers. Some of the Securitate officers were being the nationalistic face of the Ceausescu regime, especially after 1968 in August, got rid of that KGB (unintelligible) generals in the army, and the Securitate. There was a nationalization of the services of the Securitate itself and the army, and some of the generals that came were dismissed by Ceausescu, forced to retire, came back, especially General (unintelligible) and Ion Iliescu. And (unintelligible) also studied in Moscow, so lots of rumours are related to this – that some of the high-ranking officers that came to power, were brought into the new government after December, ’89, by Ion Iliescu, so educated in Moscow – as the most – and at the time I think you also have lots to have been taken into account, so it’s a bad school for the military. They were not allowed to go to West Point or whatever. So the only way they could get at some more sophisticated equipment, especially for instance, rockets, anti-aircraft rockets, and I was serving in the army in the anti-aircraft battalion so our generals... the most sophisticated... at the time there was Communist-style equipment where you were educated in Moscow, especially rockets and aircraft. Otherwise, there were no places to go anywhere else.
The Relationship Between the Stasi and the Securitate
November 5, 2015
Author Árpád Szőczi was at the Stasi (East German Secret Police) Archives in Berlin on October 30, 2015, to find out more about the relationship between the Stasi and the Romanian Secret Police, the Securitate.
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| The author in front of the Stasi Archives in Berlin | |
Secrets About the Romanian Revolution
December 12, 2014.
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Press Conference and Book Dedication
at the
Sajtóház (MÚOSZ Székház), 1064 Budapest, Vörösmarty u. 47/A
on
Monday, February 15 at 15:30
Special Guests include László Tőkés and the two Canadians who did the secret TV interview with him that was first broadcast on the Panoráma TV show on July 24, 1989: Michel Clair and Réjean Roy.
The event will be in Hungarian and in English.
For more information, please call the author at: +49-172-323 4159.
* * *
May 14, 2013
The author at the Libri Könyvpalota Book Store on Rákóczi
út 12 in Budapest.
December 21, 2012
The Hungarian version of the book is now available in Hungary through www.bookline.hu!
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Film Showing in Geneva and in Brussels
May 1, 2012
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The Hungarian Library of Geneva, Switzerland |
Producer Árpád Szőczi showed his film "Dracula's Shadow - The Real Story Behind the Romanian Revolution" at the Hungarian Library of Geneva. He also travelled to the city to meet with Swiss officials regarding evidence he had uncovered of at least one former Securitate officer who moved to Switzerland shortly after the Romanian Revolution with allegedly a large amount of money.
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The Hungarian Cultural Institute/ Balassi Institute in Brussels, Belgium |
Special thanks to László Mercz for organizing the event.
Two days later on May 3 producer Árpád Szőczi travelled to Brussels as guest of the Hungarian Cultural Institute/Balassi Institute to show his film. There he also met with delegate-representatives from several countries from the European Parliament.
The producer also conducted a lively question-and-answer period that went late into the night regarding his film and his forthcoming book (Release: November) about the Romanian Revolution.
Special thanks to Director Dr. Krisztina Reményi and Kriszta Kovács of the institute for organizing the event.
Film Showing in Gothenburg and in Helsinki
Apr. 17, 2012
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Gothenburg |
On invitation by the National Association of Swedish Hungarians, the Vetenskapfestivalen of Gothenburg, and the Hungarian Embassy in Stockholm - just to name a few - producer Árpád Szőczi showed his film "Dracula's Shadow - The Real Story Behind the Romanian Revolution" at the Stiftelsen Emigranternas House in Gothenburg.
After the showing there was also a very active question-and-answer period between the producer and the audience regarding the film and the producer's research at the Securitate Archives in Bucharest.
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The
Balassi Institute
in Helsinki, Finland |
Special thanks to Attila Csata for helping organize the event.
Two days later on April 19 producer Árpád Szőczi travelled to the Finnish capital of Helsinki to present his film at the Balassi Institute, a cultural centre run by the Hungarian government. There the producer also showed his film and had another question-and-answer period with members of the audience, many of whom were refugees from Transylvania, Romania, who had escaped the country during the 1980s and had settled in Finland.
Special thanks to Ildikó Márkus, director of the institute, and to Gábor Nagy, President of the Finnish-Hungarian Association for organizing the event.
Tour of Scandinavia a Big Success!
November 16, 2011
Producer Árpád Szőczi made a four-city Scandinavian tour where he showed his award-winning documentary"Dracula's Shadow - The Real Story Behind the Romanian Revolution" to packed audiences.
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Producer/Director Árpád Szoczi
at
the "Memorial Anchor" in Nyhavn (New Port), Copenhagen which was the first meeting place for Securitate agents in Western Europe during the Cold War. |
His first stop was Copenhagen where Szőczi showed his film on the evening of Wed., Nov. 9, at the Verdens Cultural Centre (VerdensKulturCentret). Copenhagen was an important stop for the producer not just for his film, but for his research for his upcoming book on the Romanian revolution as Copenhagen was the main meeting point in the West during the Cold War for Securitate agents. After the filming the audience participated in a very lively question and answer period with the producer.
Special thanks go to the organizers Krisztina Haulik, Endre Mészáros, Béla Hirtling and Zsuzsanna Papp, and the Hungarian-Danish Society.
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Károly Tóth and his wife Ilona
look
at their Securitate files that producer/director Árpád Szoczi brought with him for his film showing in Gothenburg, Sweden. The couple were two of the members of Romania's first and only samizdat publication "Ellenpontok" ("Counterpoints"). |
The next stop was Gothenburg in Sweden where Szőczi showed his film on the evening of Thurs., Nov. 10 at the Polish-Catholic Centre (Föreningen Polska Katoliker). Here again his trip was important for research reasons also as he met with two of the main members of Romania’s first and only samizdat publication ("Counterpoints" - "Ellenpontok"), Károly and Ilona Tóth, whom he then interviewed for his forthcoming book. After the film showing the audience participated in an interesting question and answer period with both the producer and Károly Tóth moderated by Attila Csata.
Special thanks go to the organizers Attila Csata, the Kőrösi Csoma Sándor Society, and Károly and Ilona Tóth.
The next stop was the Swedish capital of Stockholm where Szőczi showed his film on the evening of Friday, Nov. 11, at the Hungarian House. Afterwards followed a very interesting discussion in which many former refugees from Romania told Szőczi about their own experiences living under the Ceausescu dictatorship.
Many thanks to the organizers Ildikó Móra and the Hungarian House.
The last stop was Aarhus in Denmark where Szőczi showed his film on Monday, Nov. 14, in the luxurious art-house movie theatre Øst for Paradis. The theatre was packed with Danes, Hungarians and Romanians who watched the English-language version of the film and then participated in a very interesting question-and-answer period with the producer. Afterwards there was a reception for the producer at the theatre’s bar.
Many thanks to the organizers: Professor Judit Horváth and the Øst for Paradis theatre.
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Producer Árpád Szőczi responds to the article in the Romanian magazine HISTORIA about László Tőkés:
HISTORIA Magazine, Bucharest Dear Sirs, I am writing in response to the article "Adevărul despre Revoluţia din 1989: rolul lui Laszlo Tokes" by Marcau Flavius-Cristian in your magazine HISTORIA. I am a Hungarian-Canadian and the producer and director of the documentary film "Dracula's Shadow - The Real Story Behind the Romanian Revolution" ("Umbra lui Dracula - Adevărata poveste despre revoluţia română") which was released on December 15, 2009, as a co-production with Hungary's international broadcaster DUNA TV. Since then the film has become one of Hungary's most successful documentaries ever, having sold in Hungary, Canada, Spain and Poland.
Because of the interview Tokes - who was already in big trouble for his courageous church sermons every Sunday which criticized the living standards in the country and the situation of the minorities - lost his job, and after a number of legal challenges which he obviously lost, was given the deadline of December 15 to leave the church or be forcibly evicted. My corresponding book on that secret mission and on the Romanian Revolution will come out on April 16, 2012. I wish to respond to the author Marcau Flavius-Cristian who is reporting on the work of Alex Mihai Stoenescu. 1) Stoenescu says that the revolution started first in Iasi. "Revoluţia a început la Iaşi, iar curajul lui Tokes este o invenţie, atitudinea sa - dincolo de legăturile cu spionajul maghiar - fiind exact contrară imaginii proiectate în universităţile americane de Vladimir Tismăneanu, minoritatea maghiară n-a avut nici un rol, violenţele din Timisoara fiind provocate si întreţinute profesionist de cetăţeni români, în majoritatea lor etnici români."It is true that there was a demonstration in Iasi the day before on Dec. 14. The British historian Peter Siani-Davies in his excellent book "The Romanian Revolution of December 1989" said the demonstration was in the name of "The Romanian Popular Front" (P. 113). However, it was quickly quashed by the Securitate. But without any doubt at all, the real revolution started in Timisoara the next day when early on the morning of Dec. 15 starting at about 7 a.m. dozens of people - first from the Hungarian minority and then later joined by the Romanian majority and even member of the Serbian minority - came out to protect Tokes from eviction. By December 16 the number had risen to 10,000, and that is when the military and the Securitate attacked. Then - just hours later - at about 3 a.m. on December 17, dozens of Securitate officers and regular police stormed into Tokes' church and arrested him, his wife and seven friends who were in the church to protect Tokes. Tokes was beaten and his pregnant wife was man-handled. The couple were then separated and in a convoy of motor vehicles were taken to the small village of Mineu in Transylvania. They arrived there around noon hour the same day. 2) You also mention the Romanian historian Vladimir Tismaneanu credits Tokes with starting the Romanian Revolution.Please note that Tismaneanu is just one of countless historians from around the world who credits Tokes with starting the revolution. So does, for example, the historian Siani-Davies, as well as the Romanian government itself. In fact, the Romanian government awarded Tokes "Ordinul Naţional Steaua României în grad de Cavaler" on December 15, 2009, in Timisoara. Do you think the Romanian government would do such a thing without good reason? Furthermore, I have read Tokes' Securitate file - along with the help of my research assistant William Totok. Altogether there are about 8,000 pages in it. From the files you can see how Tokes was the principal dissident in Romania and how the Securitate was doing everything in its power to terrorize him and his family. Indeed, it is a wonder to me how any human being can withstand such pressure. 3) The author also claims that Tokes was involved with the Hungarian Secret Service ("dincolo de legăturile cu spionajul maghiar"). First of all, Laszlo Tokes says that is not true, and my experience has been that Tokes has always told me the truth. Furthermore, nowhere have I ever been able to find proof of anything that indicated he worked for the Hungarian Secret Service. In fact, I did an interview with a former Hungarian Secret Service officer called János I. Szirtes who told me that as far as he knows no Hungarian Secret Service officers went into Transylvania or got involved in the problems there until after December 16, 1989. 4) The author also said that Tokes only thought about himself. "Tokes [...] nicidecum n-a zis << veniţi şi staţi să murim împreună pentru democraţie şi libertate. Tokes a încercat să-şi salveze pielea.". When hundreds and then thousands of citizens from Timisoara came to his church on December 15 and 16, Tokes asked them to go home because he told me that he saw elements in the crowd who were suspicious to him (provocateurs) and he didn't want to see bloodshed. Please remember that Tokes was first and foremost a Protestant minister who always looked for peaceful solutions. Tokes was also involved in countless actions to help Romania AND the Hungarian minority. For example, he organized a protest against the planned "systemization" of thousands of villages. That involved destroying these villages and transferring the people to cities. His action was very heroic, so I hardly think he was interested in "saving his own skin" - ever. 5) In the author's conclusion he said that he proved Tokes was not the person who started the Romanian Revolution. Instead that he was used by others as a diversion. ("Prin cele relatate mai sus, cazul Laszlo Tokes şi formarea masei critice, am demonstrat că nu pastorul reformat a fost fitilul şi formatorul acestei mase care a protestat împotriva regimului totalitar a lui Ceauşescu. El a fost folosit de cei "bine antrenaţi" pentru acest scop - numiti diversionişti - pentru a strânge multimea - din câte observăm mai sus, nu au reusit să strângă decât un număr infirm de persoane - si într-un final a-i întoarce împotriva lui Ceauşescu!")I don't think the author proved that at all. Laszlo Tokes was Public Enemy Number 1 for Ceausescu. Former Securitate Major Radu Tinu told me that his case was so serious that every month he had to go to Bucharest to have Tokes' file analyzed and discussed with Interior Minister Iulian Vlad who then went to Ceausescu to report. Meanwhile, we at the Hungarian Human Rights Foundation were using every opportunity to inform the world media about the situation surrounding Tokes. That in a way kept Tokes alive as Ceausescu was worried how the world would react if something happened to Tokes. We also received top information from informers within Romania. I will reveal who they were in my forthcoming book. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to respond. Yours truly, Árpád Szoczi |
Another Film Showing in Transylvania!
October 10, 2011
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Full
house for the showing of "Dracula's Shadow - The Real Story Behind the Romanian Revolution" |
On Thursday, Oct. 6, producer Árpád Szőczi showed his film "Dracula's Shadow - The Real Story Behind the Romanian Revolution" in Miercurea Ciuc, Romania, at the Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania.
Accompanying him was his co-researcher and renowned expert on the Securitate (former Romanian Secret Police) files, William Totok. After the film they both fielded questions from a packed audience at the main university auditorium about their research at the Securitate Archives in Bucharest. They had both just returned from the Romanian capital where they were going over files in preparation for Szőczi's book on the Romanian Revolution which is due to be released on April 16 of next year in both English and Hungarian.
Many thanks to Director Zsolt Gyarmati, and PR and Marketing Manager Bíborka G. Dávid of the Szekler Museum of Ciuc (Csíki Székely Múzeum), and to the Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania in Miercurea Ciuc for their help.
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The
church on this dead-end street in Mineu is where László Tőkés was forcibly relocated to on Dec. 17, 1989. |
The next day, on Friday, Oct. 7, producer Szőczi then went on to Mineu, Romania, where he showed the film to the local Reformed church congregation there. Mineu is the remote town in Transylvania, Romania, where Reformed (Protestant) minister László Tőkés was forcibly sent to on December 17, 1989 by the Securitate after he was taken into custody earlier that day. Two days earlier the Romanian Revolution had broken out when parishioners and other supporters came out to try to prevent Tőkés from being forcibly evicted from his home in the Hungarian Reformed Church in Timisoara by government forces. Tőkés had become Romania's top dissident because of his outspoken criticism of the discriminatory policies of Dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.
There in Mineu producer Szőczi met with eye-witnesses to what happened back in December of 1989 when László Tőkés was forcibly brought in to their town by government forces. Some of their recollections will be included in Szőczi's forthcoming book.
Many thanks to Reformed Minister Péter Kovács for organizing
the event.
Successful Tour of South America!
August 26, 2011
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Buenos
Aires |
Buenos Aires
On Monday, Aug. 22, Szőczi was in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires to show the film at the "Hungária" (Hungarian House). Afterwards he held a power-point presentation on his most recent findings at the Securitate (former Romanian Secret Police) archives in Bucharest. There he had uncovered a file which concentrated on Hungarians in South America who were being observed by Romanian agents during the 1970s and '80s. Szőczi also answered questions from the audience.Sao Paulo
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Sao
Paulo |
During his journey to both cities the producer conducted seven interviews for his upcoming book on the Romanian Revolution which will be released worldwide on Apr. 16, 2012.
Special thanks go out to the following people for helping organize Szőczi's
tour: Éva and Gedeon Piller in Sao Paulo, and István
Zombory and Mátyás Lomniczy in Buenos Aires.
Successful Tour of Transylvania!
April 15, 2011
Oradea
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Downtown Oradea |
Among the many questions from the audience, the producer was also told by people attending that some of the media in Romania was trying to play down the role of László Tőkés in the Romanian Revolution, and that the producer's film should be shown in every school in Romania so that people are reminded about what really happened.
One former resident of Timisoara told the producer that the Australian Ambassador to Romania also travelled to the besieged city during the Romanian Revolution to try to visit László Tőkés.
Co-organizer János Antal also told the producer after the broadcast what happened to him when -- as a child -- his father called him over to the TV on the evening of Monday, July 26, 1989, when Hungary's "Panoráma" show played the interview done by Canadian reporter Réjean Roy with László Tőkés. His father said: "Look at this man and remember his name because tomorrow morning they will have taken him away!"
Many thanks to the Partium Christian University and
organizers, Gergő Mostis and János Antal.
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The producer in front of the newly restored King Mathias statue in downtown Cluj-Napoca |
On April 8 the producer showed his film in a packed seminar room at the Sapientia University, and answered questions from the audience.
The producer was also interviewed by István Ambrus, a reporter for the Hungarian-language section of the city's national Romanian radio station.
Many thanks to the Sapientia University, and, in particular
to Orsolya Tóth.
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The actual room in Mineu where László Tőkés and his wife Edit were placed under house arrest after being forcibly removed from Timisoara on December 17th 1989 |
On April 9 the producer showed his film at the Ioan Sima Gallery to a packed room where he also answered questions from the audience.
During his visit to Zalau the producer also photographed the former Securitate headquarters where László Tőkés was interrogated during the daytime after he was arrested on Dec. 17, 1989, and taken away from Timisoara.
Co-organizer László Józsa also brought the producer to nearby Mineu where László Tőkés spent his nights in the church residence after being forcibly removed from Timisoara. The producer got a tour of the location by the local Reformed Minister, Péter Kovács.
Many thanks to Attila Szabó of the Ioan Sima
Gallery, to László Józsa and to Péter
Kovács.
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Downtown Satu Mare |
On April 10 the producer showed his film in this city in the north-western part of Romania to a packed room at the Democracy Centre. After the showing he answered many questions from the audience.
The producer was also interviewed by Bernadette Hideg of SZTV (Szatmár TV).
Many thanks to the organizers, Enikő Veres-Kupán and
Nándor Tivadar.
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The Public Library of Odorheiu Secuiesc where the screening took place |
Odorheiu Secuiesc
On April 11 the producer showed the film to a packed movie room at the City Public Library. Afterwards he answered many questions from the audience who also told him about their own experiences during the Romanian Revolution.
Many thanks to the organizer and director of the library, Károly
Szabó.
Targu Mures
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The producer being interviewed on the morning TV program on the ETV (Erdélyi Magyar Televízió) Network |
He was then interviewed the next morning by Sándor Gáspár of Radio Mures, and by Emőke Rafai of the "Napraforgó" (Morning Show) on the EMT Network (Erdélyi Magyar Televízió or Transylvanian Hungarian TV).
Many thanks to the Sapientia University, its Dean Gyula
Székely, and Réka Palkó.
Sfantu Gheorghe
On April 13 the producer showed his film at the city's Artists Cinema. The very interesting question-and-answer session was hosted by local journalist Zoltán Bedő.
Many thanks to the tireless work of the organizer of the event -- and
the Artists Cinema director -- Endre Lázár-Prezsmer.
"Dracula's Shadow - The Real Story Behind the Romanian Revolution" on Tour in Transylvania, Romania!
April 4, 2011
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Alajos Chrudinák, formerly of Panoráma |
Szőczi, a television producer based in Berlin, Germany, but who is originally from Toronto, Canada, is the only journalist from North America to have been accredited to research at the Securitate Archives.
He is now finishing his book on the Romanian Revolution which will come out in both English and in Hungarian on November 1 of this year.
Here is the schedule:
| DATE | TIME | CITY | LOCATION | CONTACT | |
| 1. | Thurs., Apr. 7 | 18:00 | Oradea | Partium Christian University | Gergő Mostis |
| 2. | Fri., Apr. 8 | 20:00 | Cluj-Napoca | Sapientia University (Bocskai House) Óváry Room |
Orsolya Tóth |
| 3. | Sat., Apr. 9 | 17:00 | Zalau | Ioan Sima Gallery Gheorghe Doja Street No. 6. |
László Józsa |
| 4. | Sun., Apr. 10. | 18:00 | Satu Mare | Vasile Lucaciu Street No. 18. | Enikő Veres-Kupán |
| 5. | Mon., Apr. 11 | 17:00 | Odorheiu Secuiesc | City Library | Károly Szabó |
| 6. | Tues., Apr. 12 | 18:00 | Târgu Mures | Sapientia University Târgu Mures/Corunca Sos.Sighisoarei 1/C. Room 114. |
Réka Palkó |
| 7. | Wed., Apr. 13 | 18:00 | Sfântu Gheorghe | Művész Mozi (Artists' Cinema) | Endre Lázár-Prezsmer |
Showing in Boston!
February 10, 2011
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"Dracula's Shadow - The Real Story Behind the Romanian Revolution" was shown in Hungarian with English sub-titles at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in Cambridge on Wed., Feb. 9 to a packed classroom.
The producer, Árpád Szőczi, was also on hand to give a presentation after the film on his latest discoveries at the Securitate (the former Romanian Secret Police) archives in Bucharest.
We gratefully thank András Cserny and The Hungarian Society of Massachusetts
(Masachusettsi Magyar Egyesület) for organizing the event.
French-language broadcast of "Dracula's Shadow - The Real Story Behind the Romanian Revolution" a big success!
February 3, 2011
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Prior to that two of the film's protagonists, Quebecers Michel Clair and Réjean Roy, were interviewed extensively by the Quebec media.
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The producer, Árpád Szőczi, was in Montreal to help promote the film
and celebrated the film's success with Clair, Roy and some of their family
members in a stylish Montreal restaurant.
"Dracula's Shadow - The Real Story Behind the Romanian Revolution" Sold Around the World!
January 6, 2011
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Interview in Montreal with Michel Clair (left) and Réjean Roy |
The documentary has up to now been sold to five networks in the following four countries: Hungary, Spain, Poland and Canada, making it one of Hungary's most successful documentary films ever.
Here is the breakdown:
Hungary - DUNA TV
Spain - TV Catalunya
Poland - PLANETE TV
Canada - CBC/Radio-Canada and RDI (Réseau d'Information)
The next international broadcast of the doc (this time the 52-minute
French-language version) will be on Wednesday, Feb. 2 on RDI at 20:00
on the show "Les grands reportages".
Please note that there are three language versions of "Dracula's
Shadow - The Real Story Behind the Romanian Revolution" - English,
French and Hungarian, all narrated and voiced by native speakers.
For more information please contact the company at euronair@aol.com
or by phone at 49-172-323 4159.
Film Showing in Bucharest, London and Paris!
November 11, 2010
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Producer Árpád Szőczi has been invited to show his documentary film "Dracula's Shadow - The Real Story Behind the Romanian Revolution" in the capitals of Romania, Britain and France, as well as give a talk afterwards.
Szőczi is the only journalist from North America who has been accredited to research the Securitate files in Bucharest. He has been there five times and will reveal in the Q & A some of the newest information he has found there. Earlier information is already in the film.
Here is the schedule:
Tues., Nov. 16
The Hungarian Cultural Institute in Bucharest has invited the
producer to show the Hungarian version of his film with English sub-titles
as part of the Institute's "Hungarian Film Week"
Location: Studioul Horea Bernea, str. Monetariei 3, Bucharest
Time: 18:00
Telephone: +40-21-317 00 90
Organizer's e-mail: bumkk@bumkk.ro
Thurs., Nov. 18
The Hungarian Cultural Centre in London is showing the English-language
version of the film on its premises located at:
10 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7NA
Time: 19:00
Telephone: +44-207-240 8448 or 6162.
Organizer's e-mail: culture@hungary.org.uk
Tues., Nov. 23
The Institut Hongrois de Paris/Collegium Hungaricum is showing the French-language
version of the film on its premises located at:
92, rue Bonaparte, Paris 75006
Time: 20:00
Telephone: 33-1-43 26 06 44
Organizer's e-mail: info@instituthongrois.fr
Please note that the French version of the film is unique as two of the
protagonists -- Michel Clair and Réjean Roy from Québec, Canada -- were
interviewed in both English and in French, and this version presents their
answers in their mother tongue.
The North American Tour
June 9, 2010
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Special guests Réjean Roy (second from the left) and Michel Clair (second from the right) are feted at the Foyer Hongrois in Montreal. |
Producer/Director Árpád Szőczi had a very successful tour across North
America showing the long version (89 minutes) of "Dracula's Shadow
- The Real Story Behind the Romanian Revolution". Starting on May
3 in Montreal at the Hungarian United Church the record
crowd of 130 guests were honoured by the presence of Michel Clair and
Réjean Roy who are two of the protagonists in the film. Earlier that day
they were also special guests at the Foyer Hongrois in Montreal.
Special thanks to: Klára Joó and Attila György.
The next day the film was shown in Ottawa at the Hungarian
Community Centre where several invited high profile supporters of the
Hungarian Human Rights' Foundation and the anti-Ceausescu demonstrations
of the 1980s, were also in attendance. They included former Member of
Parliament and Federal Cabinet Minister David Kilgour, now a leading advocate
of human rights around the world and 2010 Nobel Peace Prize Nominee. He
was especially important to Hungarian-Canadians during the 1980s because
of his effective lobbying in government to put pressure against the Ceausescu
regime of Romania and its handling of the Hungarian minority. Several
members of the Romanian community in Ottawa also came to the film showing.
Attendance: 65.
Special thanks to: Gyula Kovács.
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In Ottawa former Member of Parliament for Canada David Kilgour (standing up on the right) praises the film to producer/director Árpád Szőczi (standing up on the left). |
Third stop on the tour was Windsor on May 6. There producer/director
Árpád Szőczi not only found a fabulous crowd but met the one person he
had been looking for and couldn't find - the other man who had broken
into the Romanian Consulate in Montreal back in April, 1985 - Joe Gáspár.
Gáspár showed up at the film and then afterwards gave crucial information
about what happened during the fateful break-in. He also gave permission
to use his name. Other guests provided information about the controversial
Brazilian businessman István Zolcsák - originally from Transylvania, Romania
- who initiated several actions against the Romanian regime of Nicolae
Ceausescu in the 1970s and 1980s.
Attendance: 55.
Special thanks to: Zoltán Veres.
The next stop was British Columbia. On May 9 the Okanagan
Hungarian House showed the film. Right afterwards producer/director Árpád
Szőczi stopped in Vancouver to do interviews for his upcoming book, first
talking to Jonathan Manthorpe of The Vancouver Sun, and then with Thad
McIlroy, who wrote a report on Canada's controversial CANDU reactor sale
with Romania back in the 1980s.
Attendance: 30.
Special thanks to: Lajos Moricz
 |
An eager crowd awaited the film in San Francisco. |
On May 12 the tour then continued in the U.S. in beautiful San
Francisco where producer/director Árpád Szőczi showed the film
at the stunning Woodside Priory Hungarian Catholic Mission. There he also
met with some recent arrivals from Transylvania who gave him some important
contact information for his upcoming book. He also met a contact who provided
him with information on the controversial István Zolcsák. Éva Voisin,
the Honorary Consul General of Hungary, was also there, and was very supportive.
Attendance: 55.
Special thanks to: Éva Voisin and Katherine Papp.
Next stop was San Diego the very next day where the
film was shown at the Hall of Nations. A very impressive crowd also made
for a very interesting Q&A session afterwards. Also, several of the
guests were recent arrivals from Transylvania who also gave producer/director
Árpád Szőczi important information for his book, including info on István
Zolcsák.
Attendance: 55.
Special thanks to: Dr. Zoltan Gidofalvi, Louis Mesaros.
 |
The exterior of the Hungarian House in Los Angeles |
May 14 saw the film shown at the United Magyar House in Los Angeles.
An impressive crowd that included representatives from the Hungarian Consulate
made for a successful showing. Also, immigrants from Transylvania, Romania,
gave some important information for producer/director Árpád Szőczi for
his book.
Attendance: 70.
Special thanks to: Miklos Pereházy, Árpád Varga.
On May 15 Seattle's First Congregational Church of Bellevue
was the next stop for the film. A large crowd was also joined by Helen
Szablya, the Honorary Consul of Hungary in the region. Also, noteworthy
were the large number of non-Hungarian speakers who this time saw the
English-voiced version of the film. At all the other venues the Hungarian-language
version with English sub-titles was shown.
Attendance: 65.
Special thanks to: Zsuzsa Stanfield, László Csepregi.
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Producer/Director Árpád Szőczi shows the original plan for the secret mission on the screen in Toronto. |
On May 16 producer/director Árpád Szőczi returned to his hometown - Toronto.
There, at the Hungarian Canadian Cultural Centre, he showed the film to
an enthusiastic crowd. He also met the man he was often questioned about
by CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) - Géza Mátrai - who is
an interesting story onto himself as the man who attacked Soviet Premier
Alexey Kosygin on October 18, 1971 in Ottawa.
Attendance: 55.
Special thanks to: Rózsa Dancs, Gábor Vaski.
 |
László Hámos of the Hungarian Human Rights Foundation being interviewed on Hungary's international broadcaster DUNA TV at the Hungarian House in New York City |
The next day Cleveland's West Side Hungarian Reformed
Church showed the film to an eager audience representing the largest expatriate
Hungarian community in North America. Also present was an important contact
who shed more light on Brazilian István Zolcsák.
Attendance: 55.
Special thanks to: Endre Szentkirályi.
May 18 saw the film shown in the gorgeous American Hungarian Foundation
building in New Brunswick, New Jersey - also home to
the famous Rutgers University.
Attendance: 30.
Special thanks to: August J. Molnar, Patricia L. Fazekas.
Two days later saw the film shown in New York City's
Hungarian House on 82nd Street. There a large crowd of 80 people that
included Romanians also stayed for more than an hour after the film showing
for a very vibrant Q & A period.
Special thanks to László Hámos.
Finally, the tour ended the next day - on May 21 - in Wallingford,
Connecticut at the Wallingford Hungarian Community Club. There various
immigrants from Transylvania, Romania approached producer/director Árpád
Szőczi with information that will be useful for his book. A former acquaintance
of the Brazilian businessman Zolcsák also talked about his recollections.
Attendance: 50.
Special thanks to: Horváth Ákos, Dr. Balázs Somogyi, Csilla Somogyi.
North American Tour of Film
May 2, 2010
Producer/Director Árpád Szőczi starts on his North American tour of his film "Dracula's Shadow - The Real Story Behind the Romanian Revolution".
Here is the schedule:
| Monday, May 3 | Montreal | Hungarian United Church/Első
Magyar Református Egyház 50 boulevard Graham, Mont-Royal, PQ. Tel: 514-731-5732 E-mail: hunited@videotron.ca 6:30 p.m. Two very special guests - Michel Clair and Réjean Roy - who are two of the protagonists in the film will be personally there to answer questions. |
| Tues., May 4 | Ottawa |
Hungarian Community Centre/Magyar Ház 43 Capital Drive, Ottawa, ON. Tel: (613) 225-8754 E-mail: ottawamagyarhaz@gmail.com 7 p.m. |
| Thurs., May 6 | Windsor |
Hungarian Cultural Centre, Mindszenty Hall 790 Hanna E., Windsor. ON Tel: 519-256-9521 E-mail: hcc.windsor@netzero.com 7:30 p.m. (6:30 p.m. reception) |
| Sun., May 9 | Kelowna | Okanagan
Hungarian House/Okanagani Magyar Ház 1670 Ross Road, Kelowna, BC Tel: 250-769-1609 E-mail: okinfo@telus.net 4 p.m. |
| Wed., May 12 | San Francisco |
Woodside Priory Hungarian Catholic Mission/Woodside Priory Magyar
Katolikus Misszió 302 Portola Road, Portola Valley, CA Tel: 650-861-0002 7 p.m. |
| Thurs., May 13 | San Diego |
House of Hungary/Magyar Ház, Hall of Nations 2191 Pan American Road West, San Diego, CA Tel: (619) 238-5155 E-mail: info@sdmagyar.org 7 p.m. |
| Fri., May 14 | Los Angeles | Egyesült Magyar Ház/United
Magyar House 1975 West Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA Tel: 1-323-734-1453 E-mail: perehazy.miklos@gmail.com 8 p.m. |
| Sat., May 15 | Seattle | First
Congregational Church of Bellevue 752 - 108th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 206-340-0706 7 p.m. |
| Sun., May 16 | Toronto | Hungarian
Canadian Cultural Centre/Kanadai Magyar Kultúrközpont 840 St. Clair Ave West, Toronto, ON Tel: 416-654-4926 E-mail: office@hccc.org , rosacae@hotmail.com 7 p.m. |
| Mon., May 17 | Cleveland | West
Side Hungarian Reformed Church/Nyugat
Oldali Református Templom 15300 Puritas Avenue, Cleveland, OH Tel: (216) 476-3736 E-mail: wshrc@yahoo.com 6:30 p.m. |
| Tues., May 18 | New Brunswick (NJ) |
American Hungarian Foundation 300 Somerset Street, New Brunswick, NJ Tel: 732-846-5777 E-mail: info@ahfoundation.org 7:30 p.m. |
| Thurs., May 20 | New York City |
Hungarian House/Magyar Ház 213 East 82nd Street, New York, NY Tel: 212-249-9360 E-mail: hungarianhouse@gmail.com 7 p.m. |
| Fri., May 21 | Wallingford (CT) | Wallingford
Hungarian Community Club/Wallingford Magyar Klub 147 Ward Street, Wallingford, CT Tel: 203 284-9899 7:30 p.m. |
 |
Producer/Director Árpád Szőczi in front of the former Ceausescu Palace - now the Parliament Palace - in Bucharest |
More information can also be found
on
Facebook.com and at the site of the Hungarian Human Rights Foundation
(www.hhrf.org).
Phone: 212-289-5488.
Our Website Wins Third Place!
February 14, 2010
The website of "Dracula's Shadow - The Real Story Behind the Romanian Revolution" came in third place in a viewer's vote run by the Hungarian movie website http://port.hu.
The competition was conducted from January 29 - February 8 during which 3,526 votes were tallied on the 25 websites in the competition. The contest was split into two categories: feature films as well as the joint category of: short, TV and non-fiction (documentary) films. Winning the latter was "The Last Performance".
Coming in third was our film: "Dracula's Shadow - The Real Story Behind the Romanian Revolution".
We congratulate out webmaster Péter Józsa!
Winner at the Hungarian Film Week!
February 9, 2010
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Producer Árpád Szőczi accepting his award at the Hungarian Film Week film festival |
"It's a huge honour considering this is my first full-length documentary film," said Szőczi after accepting the award. "We knew the doc was popular as it was getting huge play in the media and in public forums in Hungary and in Romania. And now we're being asked to submit the film to other festivals. We've also been approached by a company to put out a DVD on the film."
Besides getting ready for other festivals, Szőczi is now finishing his
book on the Romanian Revolution which will come out on Dec. 1.
In Competition at the "Hungarian Film Week" Film Festival!
January 27, 2010
 |
"Dracula's Shadow - The Real Story Behind the Romanian Revolution" has been chosen to be in competition at the annual Hungarian film festival, The Hungarian Film Week (www.magyarfilmszemle.hu).
158 films applied for competition in the documentary section, and 30 were picked.
"It is a great honour to be already accepted into competition in the first film festival we applied for," says producer Árpád Szőczi. "I've been told by many people that there hasn't been a film like this ever in Hungary and that people didn't know about this secret mission from Canada. We'll now let the jury decide."
Szőczi shot in five countries (Romania, Hungary, France, Canada and the U.S.) and is the only reporter from North America to get permission to research the Securitate (Romanian Secret Police) files in Romania. That was decisive for the film, too, as some of the information found in the files reveals for the first time what really happened.
Screenings of "Dracula's Shadow - The Real Story Behind the Romanian Revolution" at the Hungarian Film Week:
Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010
10:00, URANIA Film Theatre, Fábri Room
Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010
10:20, Palace MOM Park, Theatre 2.
Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010
20:40, Palace MOM Park, Theatre 2
Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010
10:00, URANIA Film Theatre, Fábri Room
After the film there will be a question-and-answer session with the producer.
Premieres
December 18, 2009
"Dracula's Shadow - The Real Story Behind the Romanian Revolution" had its world premiere on Dec. 15, 2009, at the West University of Timisoara to a standing-room-only packed house of 500 guests. On hand were also Lech Walesa of Poland and former Romanian president Emil Constantinescu.
The next day, on Dec. 16, the film had its Hungary premiere at the URÁNIA Film Theatre in Budapest.
And the following day, on Dec. 17, a special screening was given at the Collegium Hungaricum in Berlin where protagonists Michel Clair and Réjean Roy also took part in a forum discussion hosted by the director of the Collegium, János Can Togay. Also participating were deputy head of Berlin's Romanian Cultural Institute "Titu Maiorescu" Alexandrina Panaite, and the film's producer, Árpád Szőczi.
Below is the invitation to the event:
http://www.hungaricum.de/programm/programm/events/882.html
The Film Poster
December 13, 2009
DUNA TV to broadcast "Dracula's Shadow - The Real Story Behind the Romanian Revolution"
November 27, 2009
Hungary's international TV network DUNA TV will show the 52-minute version of the film on Dec. 15, 2009, for the 20th anniversary of the Romanian Revolution.
"Dracula's Shadow" will be broadcast at 21:40 Central European Time.
DUNA TV is available on satellite and on cable around the world, and can also be seen on the internet at www.dunatv.hu.
The Documentary Film is Finished
November 20, 2009
"Dracula's Shadow - The Real Story Behind the Romanian Revolution" is completed now. It has three language-versions - English, French and Hungarian - and has two lengths: a 52-minute version for TV and an 89-minute version for film festivals.
Romanian-language versions are also being planned.
For more information, please contact our international distributor Carol Spycher of Accent Films International in Montreux, Switzerland: (c.spycher@accent-films.com, Tel: 00-41-21-963 9300, Fax: 00-41-21-963 9305).
Members of the Secret Mission Coming to Europe
November 20, 2009
The two Canadians who shot the secret TV interview with Romania's biggest dissident, László Tőkés, back in 1989 which sparked the Romanian revolution are coming to Europe for the 20th anniversary of the event. On December 15 Michel Clair and Réjean Roy will be in Timisoara, Romania, for the world premiere of the film "Dracula's Shadow - The Real Story Behind the Romanian Revolution".
Here is their itinerary so far:
| 1) | Dec. 15 - Timisoara, Romania (Universitatea de Vest, Blvd. V. Parvan 4). World premiere of the film (4pm) and press conference (3pm). |
| 2) | Dec. 16 - Budapest, Hungary. Hungarian premiere of the film at the URÁNIA Film Theatre, Rákóczi út 21 (7pm). |
| 3) | Dec. 17 - Berlin, Germany. Collegium Hungaricum (Ungarisches Kulturinstitut Berlin, Dorotheenstrasse 12 - www.hungaricum.de). Press conference and public presentation of the 52-minute version of the film along with a panel discussion (8pm). |
| 4) | Dec. 18 - Paris. Press conference and various TV interviews (4pm). |
For more information, please contact Árpád Szőczi (euronair@aol.com), director of EurOnAir Productions Ltd. As of Nov. 30, 2009, please contact Nicola Wewer: nicola.wewer@web.de.
Final Film Editing
July 22, 2009
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Reenactment of László Tőkés' arrest with actors from Timisoara |
The Securitate Archives
July 22, 2009
The producer, Árpád Szőczi, and his historical advisor and assistant researcher William Totok, travelled twice to Bucharest this year to do research at the archives of the former Romanian secret police under dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. At the CNSAS (The National Council for the Study of the Securitate Archives) they read files from both the domestic secret service (the Securitate) and from the D.I.E. (Departamentul de Informatii Externe).Mr. Szőczi is the only accredited journalist from North America to ever get permission to research at the CNSAS. Both he and Totok spent five days in February, 2009, and two days in May there.
 |
Securitate surveillance photo of László Tőkés |
"I found information that I never dreamt was possible", says Szőczi. "The cruelty of the regime surprised me. Furthermore, I am now able to disprove claims made by some people as well as advance this story as to what really went on. My historical advisor, William Totok - turned to me after one very eventful day, and asked:
'You are sitting on a ticking timebomb. What are you going to do?'"
Filming took place in five countries and in 12 cities around the world. The film and the book will both be released on the 20th anniversary of the Romanian Revolution - December 15, 2009.
Editorial Supervisor On Board
June 25, 2008
EurOnAir Productions Ltd. is pleased to announce that Christopher Springate will be the editorial supervisor of the documentary film "Dracula`s Shadow - The Real Story Behind the Romanian Revolution".
Springate is a seasoned journalist who is also an on-air personality on Germany`s international TV broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW-TV, www.dw-world.de).
He is also a documentary filmmaker who is especially looking forward to working on this project.
"I`ve always been interested in the story-behind-the-story," said Springate, "and this is a classic case of revealing the real story behind the official version."
International Representation
June 19, 2008
EurOnAir Productions Ltd. has just signed with Accent Films International Ltd. (www.accent-films.com) of Montreux, Switzerland, an international distribution company, to take over world-wide sales of "Dracula`s Shadow - The Real Story Behind the Romanian Revolution".
"We decided on Accent Films based on their proven track record for selling high-quality documentaries and also because of their plan for our film," said producer Árpád Szőczi after meeting with Carol Spycher, Managing Director of Accent Films in Montreux on Wednesday, June 18, 2008.
Among some of the award-winning documentaries Accent Films represent include "Letter to Anna" about the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya.
"We find "Dracula`s Shadow - The Real Story Behind the Romanian Revolution" a very unique production," said Spycher, "and we look forward to representing it."
For further information please contact: Carol Spycher, Managing Director, Accent Films International Ltd., Rue de la Gare 46, 1820 Montreux, Switzerland. Tel: +41-21-963 93 00. E-mail: cspycher@accent-films.com.
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Hungarian Film Premiere
February 28, 2008
The premiere of the Hungarian cinema version (80-minutes long) of the documentary will be on December 15, 2009 at the stately URÁNIA Film Theatre on Rákóczi út 21 (21 Rákóczi Street) in Budapest.