USI will host the inaugural Rechnic Holocaust Film Series Wednesday, Feb. 25 and Thursday, Feb. 26, expanding an annual fall speaker series. The event is free and is funded through the generosity of Irene Rechnic, who endowed the program in honor of her parents, Edward and Regina Rechnic.

“They directly link Evansville with the Holocaust,” said Todd Schroer, director of the Rechnic Holocaust Speaker and Film Series.

Edward and Regina Rechnic survived multiple concentration and death camps, including Auschwitz, and Irene Rechnic was a hidden child during the war. The family reunited after liberation and later settled in Evansville, where Edward Rechnic built a successful business and the family became active members of the community.

“The agreement between Ms. Rechnic and USI stipulates that the endowment must be used for speakers or films,” Schroer said. “With the success of the fall events, I wanted to expand the scope to include an annual film series.”

The two-night event begins at 6 p.m. each evening in Kleymeyer Hall (LA0101) in the Liberal Arts Center basement.

Wednesday’s program will feature two films from the immediate post-World War II period: “The Stranger” and “Death Mills.” The films will be followed by a panel discussion comparing documentaries and feature films, particularly their roles in preserving Holocaust history.

“This is a debated topic, which is why it is the focus of the first night of the series,” Schroer said, referring to the impact of raw documentary footage versus fictional storytelling.

Thursday’s program shifts to Nazi-occupied France with screenings of “France Divided” and “The Forger.”

Eileen Angelini, director of “France Divided,” will present on the process of collecting oral testimonies, selecting archival materials and creating the film. She will also discuss the intersection of her documentary and the illustrated documentary “The Forger” in preserving Holocaust history. A Q&A session will follow her presentation.

Schroer said he hopes attendees will draw connections between the historical material and present-day challenges.

“Primarily, I hope that they realize how the events, beliefs, and other aspects of the Holocaust relate to today’s world,” he said. “We are struggling now with many of these same issues: racism, antisemitism, misinformation and propaganda, the fragility of democracy and the list goes on.”

For those who want to continue learning after the series, Schroer recommends exploring the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum webpage, as well as visiting public libraries, speaker series and online seminars.

The Rechnic Holocaust Speaker Series will return Thursday, Sept. 24 and feature Anne Berg discussing her book on waste and war in Nazi Germany.

Both entrances to the basement and Kleymeyer Hall are accessible, and accessible parking is available near the building.

Schroer said golf cart transportation will be available beginning at 5 p.m. each night, weather permitting.