Survivor documentary: I Am Here, Ella Blumenthal, directed by Jordy Sank, South African joint premiere at Encounters South African International Documentary Film Festival 2021 and Durban International Film Festival 2021
| What: I Am Here- the extraordinary story of 98-year-old Holocaust survivor Ella Blumenthal who lives in Cape Town When: Joint premiere at the Encounters South African International Documentary Film Festival (June 10 – 20 June) and the Durban International Film Festival (July 22 to August 1) Encounters virtual: R60. Direct booking link https://virtual.encounters.co.za/film/i-am-here/ Physical screening at Encounters: Bioscope JHB with Q&A Mon. Jun 14, 2021 at 7pm SAST (R70) https://tickets.tixsa.co.za/event/encounters-2021-i-am-here Trailer link: https://vimeo.com/510401467 Durban International Film Festival. Bookings for the screenings will open at a later date https://ccadiff.ukzn.ac.za |
Holocaust survivor Ella Blumenthal is well known in South Africa for sharing her harrowing memories of surviving three concentration camps. This exceptional woman has retained a sense of hope and humour. In talks, lectures, panels and other forums, she has engaged people of all ages. They have been inspired by her resilience and humanity. No matter what she has been through, she is here to tell her story and generate dialogue. I Am Here, tracks this remarkable woman’s “98th birthday celebration where she shares her story in a rare, honest and candid conversation with close friends and family.” The director is Jordy Sank. Ella’s memories are depicted in 2D animation. See image on this post. The film is receiving interest internationally. It won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival and was screened at the Miami Jewish Film Festival earlier this year [2021]. This project was made possible by a grant from the Claims Conference and supported by the Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre. Metro International acquired world-wide rights to I Am Here and launched it at the European Film Market in February 2021. That is a biggie for a South African documentary. It is wonderful that the film is making its South African joint premiere, 2021, at Encounters South African International Documentary Film Festival and Durban International Film Festival. Producer Gabriella Blumberg says: “We hope that the film can be a catalyst for speaking about all forms of discrimination in a world that still defines itself by what is other.”
✳Featured image of Ella Blumenthal, photographed in Sea Point, supplied.
