Cape Times E-dition

Gong for holocaust survivor film

STAFF WRITER

THE South African documentary I Am Here about the country’s oldest Holocaust survivor, Ella Blumenthal, has won the Best South African Documentary award at the 42nd Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) – automatically qualifying it for Oscar consideration.

It is the second award for the film directed by Jordy Sank and produced by Gabriella Blumberg, after it won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival earlier this year.

The DIFF, organised by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, announced its winners on Saturday in a live Facebook award ceremony. The festival’s highest accolade of Best Feature Film went to Chinese director Shin Xin’s A Little Bird Reminds Me, from a selection of entries that the jury described as “diverse in topics and styles”.

I Am Here focuses on Blumenthal at her 98th birthday celebration, where she shares her story in a rare, honest and candid conversation with close friends and family.

Her memories are depicted in 2D animation – typically an unusual medium for Holocaust flashbacks –

which adds a nuanced innovation to the texture of Blumenthal’s stories.

While the documentary recalls her astonishing endurance, weaved into her narrative of overcoming trauma, it is also an uplifting story of courage and light.

Some of Blumenthal’s memories include surviving three concentration camps and avoiding death in seemingly serendipitous ways. She was a pillar of support to her niece, Roma, who survived alongside her.

Upon receiving the accolade, Sank said: “During the Durban International

Film Festival the lovely Ella Blumenthal turned 100 years old. The winning of this jury award is a testament to Ella’s extraordinary strength and boundless love that has truly resonated and touched so many. We thank this year’s prestigious jury and the DIFF for this phenomenal birthday present celebrating Ella and her remarkable story.”

Speaking from Cape Town, an elated Blumenthal said she was proud of all the people involved in telling her story. “I have always asked, ‘Why was I chosen to survive?’ Now, I have one possible explanation. The movie based on my life story, in the hands of a talented team, contains a universal message which has been portrayed in an innovative manner,” she said.

“In this way, I hope to play a small part in curbing the all-pervasive hatred so prevalent in the world today and spreading a message of love and understanding. I am so proud and grateful to the jury of the DIFF for choosing this film for the Best South African Documentary award.”

Announcing the award, the jury wrote: “Members of the jury have been touched by this unique story about freedom and survival … We liked how the film-makers worked with mixed-media and used animation; the way the makers transcended time was impressive.”

Made possible with a grant from the Claims Conference and supported by the Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre, the film will next be screened at the Dances With Films festival in Los Angeles between August 26 and September 5.

Follow @sanktuaryfilms on social media to stay up to date with news of the film.

For more on the winners, visit the Durban International Film Festival on Facebook.

METRO

en-za

2021-08-03T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-08-03T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://capetimes.pressreader.com/article/281638193249844

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