'The Catcher Was A Spy' Kicks Off The 2018 Summer KCET Cinema Series at The Aero in Santa Monica

Following a screening of "The Catcher Was A Spy", director Ben Lewin attended a Q&A hosted by Cinema Series host Pete Hammond. Based on the true life story of Moe Berg, a former professional baseball player who agrees to travel behind enemy lines during World War II with a physicist to meet and, if necessary, kill the scientist leading Nazi Germany’s nuclear research program. The film stars Paul Rudd, and co-stars Mark Strong, Guy Pearce, Paul Giamatti, Jeff Daniels, Sienna Miller and Tom Wilkinson. Ben Lewin is a writer and director known for his award-winning documentaries, feature films, TV movies, mini-series and episodic programs. His breakthrough project as a writer/director was "The Case of Cruelty to Prawns," a comedy-drama that won the Best Television Film Award at the Melbourne Film Festival.

Lewin is well-known for his award-winning feature film "The Sessions" starring Oscar ® -winner Helen Hunt, and Academy Award ® nominees John Hawkes and William H. Macy. The film won numerous international awards including Audience Awards and the Special Jury Prize for Ensemble Cast at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, San Sebastian and Mill Valley Film Festivals. In 2013, the lead cast of "The Sessions" garnered two Independent Spirit Awards for Best Male Lead and Best Supporting Actress, as well as two Golden Globe nominations in the same categories and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Lewin’s additional credits include the murder-mystery feature "Georgia, "The Dunera," "A Matter of Convenience, "Plead Guilty" and "Get a Bond." Lewin is best known in the U.S. as the writer and director of comedy features "Paperback Romance," "The Favour, The Watch and The Very Big Fish" starring Bob Hoskins, Jeff Goldblum and Natasha Richardson. His episodic television work includes "Ally McBeal" and "Touched By An Angel," as well as a number of episodes of the Australian drama series "Sea Change." He also directed the feature film "Please Stand By" starring Dakota Fanning and Toni Collette and was a director on the ABC television series "Speechless."

Listen to the Q&A and browse photos from the screening below.

1/4 Cinema Series host Pete Hammond with Director Ben Lewin after a screening of "The Catcher Was A Spy"

2/4 Director Ben Lewin takes questions from the audience after a screening of "The Catcher Was A Spy"

3/4 Cinema Series host Pete Hammond and Director Ben Lewin participate in Q&A after a screening of "The Catcher Was A Spy"

4/4 The 2018 Summer KCET Cinema Series returned to The Aero in Santa Monica on Tuesday, June 5