(LOVELADIES, NJ) -- Lighthouse International Film Society & Wally’s Restaurant of Surf City present a screening of VESELKA: The Rainbow on the Corner at the Center of the World on Friday, January 23, 2026 at the Long Beach Island Foundation of Arts & Science. This is an intimate and deeply moving award-winning documentary celebrating family, resilience and the enduring power of the Ukrainian community in the United States. The screening is a Fundraiser for Ukrainian nonprofit RAZOM.
Narrated by Golden Globe winner David Duchovny, the film traces a son’s journey to reconnect with his father, while honoring the life’s work of his grandfather, the man who in 1954 founded the iconic NYC Ukrainian restaurant, Veselka.
Then, in 2024, as second-generation owner Tom Birchard prepares to retire after 54 years, his son, Jason, faces the pressures of stepping into his father’s shoes as the war in Ukraine impacts his staff and family.
Prior to the screening, guests are invited to the Foundation for a special reception featuring Ukrainian food favorites, including pierogies and borscht, prepared by Wally’s Restaurant. This community event offers a chance to gather, reflect, and celebrate Ukrainian culture while showing support for this embattled land. Twenty-percent of the proceeds will go to the Ukrainian nonprofit Razom, which provides critical humanitarian aid and advocacy for Ukraine.
The evening begins at 6:30pm with the reception and the screening follows at 7:30pm. Advance tickets are $15 and available for purchase online. Tickets are $20 at the door. Long Beach Island Foundation of Arts & Science is located at 120 Long Beach Boulevard in Loveladies, New Jersey. Advance online ticketing is strongly recommended.
The film, released in 2024, is in English with a running time of 106 minutes, written and directed by Michael Foire.
Sponsors include WALLY’s Restaurant of Surf City, LBI Foundation, and Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission.
The Lighthouse International Film Society is the film festival's sister organization, bringing you cutting-edge, award-winning films all year long. Click here for information on how to become a member.
