After a long journey of filming and post-production, our passion project, The Russlaender Migration: Revolution to Reflection , has finally reached completion. This 72-minute documentary explores the mass migration of Mennonites from the Soviet Union to Canada in the 1920s—unpacking both the well-known history and the stories too often overlooked. From the trauma of revolution and civil war to the lasting impacts of such a large-scale migration, the film also reflects on settlement in Canada and the necessary work of reconciliation with First Nations. The first public screening will take place on January 15 at 7:00 PM at EG Hall, University of Winnipeg . In February, the film will screen at the Real to Reel Film Festival , followed by additional screenings across Canada. The Real to Reel Film Festival runs February 17 to 22, 2026. Hosted by the North Kildonan MB Church located at 1315 Gateway Road. See official festival website for screening details: https://www.winnipegfilmfestival.com OFFICIAL RUSSLAENDER TRAILER We are deeply grateful to our partners at the Mennonite Historical Society of Canada and the Centre for Transnational Mennonite Studies —patient, collaborative, and steady supporters since the earliest days, when a camera operator was put on a train with one simple instruction: “Capture what you can.” We hope to see you out. R31

R31 has had its busiest and most complex year of production to date—and we’re all looking forward to a well-earned holiday break. Our ambitious 24-episode series, Nazis: Threads of Evil , began airing this fall. A huge thank you to the talented cast and crew who made this series possible. As the show prepares to reach audiences beyond Canada in the new year, we’re incredibly proud of what this team accomplished. DAVID MILEJSZO as Adolf Hilter in NAZIS: THREADS OF EVIL While the series was underway, a passion project titled Russlaender was also moving through post-production. This one-hour documentary explores the story of 20,000 Mennonite immigrants who arrived in Canada during the 1920s. Known as the Russlaender, their journey is re-examined through a modern lens, following a contemporary train trip across Canada to better understand the complexities and lasting impacts of “finding a new home.” The film will begin screening at events and film festivals across Canada in the new year. The train tour makes its way across Canada in RUSSLAENDER documentary. As the dust settles on a year that was a journey in its own right, we want to thank our audiences, supporters, cast, crew, and the entire R31 team. We wish you a very Merry Christmas and happy holidays. Stay warm. Stay safe. Get some rest. It’s going to be an even bigger 2026! R31

It has been a very busy eleven months at R31 working on the 24-episode series, Nazis: Threads of Evil . The series examines Hitler's inner circle and various other perpetrators within the Third Reich - instigators of the Second World War and architects of the Holocaust. Utilizing archival footage, reenactments, and interviews with some unique and brilliant scholars, Threads begins to unpack the story of radicalization and its consequences during the period. Preparing psychology professor Dr. Fathali Moghaddamm for THREADS interview at Georgetown University "We began over a year ago with the idea that there was a more personal side to these Nazis, including the women who were within the party and inner circle, that needed to be told. Understanding the decisions they made as sycophants, opportunists, and enablers to Hitler, along with the new archival material available to tell the side stories, or threads, that often get overlooked and overshadowed." - THREADS Producer / Director Andrew Wall Many thanks to the subjects we interviewed around the world, the actors, crew, Superchannel, Farpoint Distribution and the wonderful post team that made this ambitious project happen. An intense journey of history for all involved. DAVID MILEJSZO as ADOLF HITLER The first two episodes of Threads airs (Streaming & On Demand) this Friday on Superchannel - Quest in Canada. Stay tuned for worldwide streaming and broadcast dates. R31 MATT ABRA as ERNST ROHM

Over the years of producing television series and feature films, we have had the privilege of working alongside Indigenous filmmakers, broadcasters, elders, and community members. It has been an honour to collaborate in whatever roles we have played at Refuge 31 Films, but we also recognize that Indigenous stories are for Indigenous filmmakers to tell. That being said, our upcoming film Russlaender (soon to be officially announced) re-examines the story of Mennonite settlement in Canada—giving intentional space to the voices of those who were on these treaty territories long before the migrations of the 1870s and 1920s. Our aim is to acknowledge the impacts that settlement caused and to contribute, in our own work, toward a more honest relationship and a stronger future together. Acknowledgement is just the beginning. R31 "Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process." https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-reconciliation.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com

William Wall playing Andrew Wall in a family dinner recreation scene. NOV 19, 2024 The long-awaited film The Devil's Handshake   is now complete and will be available on Superchannel and Amazon Prime in Canada just in time for Christmas. Although the documentary spent less than a year in production, it has been over a decade in the making. The concept coming out of the film The Paper Nazis: Winnipeg's Fascist and Nazi Movements of the 1930's. Directed by Andrew Wall and Executive Produced by Kyle Bornais in 2010 - The Devil's Handshake  follows filmmaker Andrew Wall as he uncovers a dark trail of obscure footnotes and forgotten publications. His investigation leads to a family member with a complicated legacy and a long-buried community secret: Nazi propaganda and support within the Canadian Mennonite community. Creating the film was a fascinating journey, including trips to Nuremberg, Germany, and New Zealand to meet scholar James Urry. Though not a Mennonite himself, Urry is a celebrated expert on Mennonite history and the one person who truly understood Andrew's personal connection to this complex and dark chapter of Mennonite history. "It’s been a strange and unsettling journey, one that left me both uncomfortable and deeply stunned at times. You grow up watching black-and-white films about the Second World War, never imagining you could have a personal connection to such significant world events—or to people you’d never expect to be just a degree of separation away... like Adolf Hitler." – Filmmaker Andrew Wall As the POV film was in the final stages of post production,  our crew has hit the road gathering interviews for our upcoming series  Nazis: Threads of Evil . The series examines the lives of those who made up the Third Reich like Hitler's right hand man, Rudolf Hess, the bombastic commander of the Luftwaffe Herman Goring, Rene Leife nstahl and many more. Yes, the concept emerged from the research and production travels undertaken during The Devil's Handshake . The R31 crew has journeyed to locations such as England, Washington, Toronto, Florida, Germany, and Vancouver, engaging with some of the foremost experts who study, lecture, and write about this dark chapter of the twentieth century. These include: Dr. Lynette Nusbacher  – Strategist, veteran, author, and lecturer, renowned for her engaging contributions to television. Dr. Thomas Weber  – German-born historian, author, and professor specializing in modern German history. James Wyllie  – Historian and author of Nazi Wives: The Women at the Top of Hitler's Germany. Dr. Fathali Moghaddam  – Iranian-born psychologist, author, and Georgetown University professor specializing in political plasticity and the future of democracy and dictatorship. Their insights shed light on the complex figures and forces behind this dark period in history. Stay tuned for more news... R31

FEB 18, 2025 Winnipeg is enduring a month of deep subarctic weather, but R31 is staying warm by keeping very busy. R31's 24-episode series, Nazis: Threads of Evil,  is nearing completion, wrapping up interviews with leading experts on the Third Reich. The series explores the era through a fresh lens, featuring insights from scholars such as Dr. Lynette Nusbacher, Dr. Thomas Weber, and Dr. Waitman Wade Beorn, among others. Recreations and post production have already begun and we're looking forward to a Summer 2025 delivery. The Devil's Handshake   will be screening at the University of Winnipeg on March 5th  at 7PM. The film follows filmmaker Andrew Wall  on a personal journey as he uncovers the shocking and complex trail left by his great-grandfather during the 1930s . The event is hosted by the Centre for Transnational Mennonite Studies , and a Q&A  will follow the screening. The film is also available for viewing in Canada on Super Channel. Stay tuned for more R31 news...

Aug 1, 2025 One year ago, R31 embarked on an ambitious 24-episode series examining the perpetrators of the Second World War, titled Nazis: Threads of Evil . Using a blend of archival materials, dramatic recreations, and interviews with some of the world’s foremost experts, the series is now nearing the end of post-production. Each episode focuses on the story of a particular Nazi—from Hitler’s second-in-command Hermann Göring to the Reich’s “First Lady” Magda Goebbels, and from the Holocaust’s chief bureaucrat Adolf Eichmann to the so-called “King of Poland,” Hans Frank. Through these portraits, the series delves deep into the backgrounds of the individuals who committed horrific acts, seeking to understand the paths that led them to such evil. While organizing, researching, and filming has been a monumental task, we are driven by the conviction that these important stories—about terrible individuals whose actions must be examined and never forgotten—need to be told.

June 18, 2024 Refuge 31 Films is excited to announce the new series NAZIS: Threads of Evil, in association with Super Channel and Farpoint Distribution. This 24-episode series will delve into the lesser-known storylines of the Third Reich, including the roles of women, to understand how individuals could have been part of Hitler's horrific plan that ultimately unleashed the Holocaust, destroyed much of Europe and took tens of millions of lives. Filming to begin late Summer in North America and Germany. Stay tuned for more information!