Polo Passport Premiere with Team Ukraine

Time: June 2, 2023 6:00 PM

You are cordially invited to join the Newport Polo Club and the USA & Ukraine Polo Teams for a sneak peek premiere of Polo Passport, a new travelogue in the works by BCN Productions, in a very special one-night-only screening at the Jane Pickens Theater on Friday, June 2 at 6PM to benefit Ukraine, as part of Opening Weekend festivities, followed by a cocktail reception next door at official team headquarters, The Vanderbilt from 7-9pm to meet & greet the film makers and Ukraine Polo delegation.

“We are very excited to have a special screening of this epic project and see it on the big screen, for the opportunity to raise money to help Ukraine recover from their devastating homeland invasion”, explains Dan Keating, USA Captain, and Polo Series founder. “It's quintessential summer on the Newport waterfront for one of the biggest nights on our agenda - the eve of Opening Day to launch our 32nd season with Team Ukraine.” 

The 50-minute screening will feature the first two episodes of Polo Passport, filmed in Jamaica and Rome in a series that journeys across the planet in search of polo's diverse culture, cuisine and amazing characters that bring their game to Newport Polo, led by affable commentator William Crisp. 

Tickets for the one-night engagement at the Jane Pickens Theater & Event Center can be purchased at www.janepickens.com for $35 or by calling 401-846-5474, and at the JPT box office window at 49 Touro Street on Washington Square in Newport, RI.  Each ticket holder will receive a token upon entry to the theater for a complimentary cocktail at the Meet & Greet reception following the premiere (reception by RSVP) courtesy of sponsors Pure Insurance Company and Triton Insurance Agency.

The Premiere and Meet & Greet reception take place on the eve of Opening Day at the Newport International Polo Series presented by Turkish Airlines, launching its 32^nd season with USA vs. Ukraine making its debut at 5PM on Saturday, June 3. 

The first in a series of Cocktail Meet & Greet soirées this year, Newport Polo invites supporters to the cocktail reception with filmmakers and the Ukraine Polo delegation at their official headquarters, The Vanderbilt, Auberge Resorts Collection from 7pm-9pm by RSVP.  Capacity is limited.  The cocktail pouring will take place al fresco in the garden courtyard. Cash Bar.  Attire is Newport Chic. Dinner reservations afterwards in the Garden, Dining Room or Roof Deck are welcome by reservation - call to inquire (401) 846-6200. 

Parking is available in the metered lot on Mary Street adjacent to The Vanderbilt, and in the Brick Market Lot off Thames Street, and the Long Wharf Mall lot on W. Marlborough St.

Proceeds from the screening benefit https://ukrainians.lu/, the nonprofit organization supported by Team Ukraine's global tour and endorsed by the Ukrainian Polo Federation, and will fund armored ambulances and iPads for educational institutions to enable the children living in the conflict areas to study online. 

“It has been a tremendous adventure to meet and share the polo experience with players globally in their own backyard,” adds filmmaker Kevin Friend of BCN Productions.  Produced by acclaimed BCN Productions, Polo Passport is intended for streaming services and a succession of mini-series TV broadcasts, national syndicated TV airings.

Jane Pickens Theater, the world-class art house cinema has been the site of numerous premieres over the years, supported by personal appearances by Hollywood actors, directors & producers.  “This is another unique opportunity to present the work of veteran filmmakers Kevin Friend and Victor Ramos, and to bring quality art and entertainment to the Newport community,”  adds Kathy Staab, owner and curator of the Jane Pickens Theater & Event Center. “And we enjoy being supportive of RI Filmmakers.”

The Filmmakers:

BCN Productions’ Kevin Friend directed and co-produced Polo Passport with Victor Ramos.  Friend, owner of BCN Productions, has produced a number of full length social and cultural documentaries for a wide variety of clients, created over 300 nationally distributed programs featuring sports, travel and leisure, and has directed over 1000 live sporting events, including the New England Patriots, Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins, and Harvard University Athletics. 

The BCN Production team brings together a core group of film and video personal and graphics/animation talent to round out the production process, backed by the twenty five years of broadcast production experience, the creative team behind the acclaimed broadcast series Golfing the World and The Mountain Report.  BCN Productions is a film/video multimedia broadcast production company based in New England, specializing in documentary film, broadcast television, business communication, and live event production since 1988.