Film Independent’s Fiscal Sponsorship program opens the door to nonprofit funding for independent filmmakers and media artists. Donate today and help bring Auschwitz Bagel to life.
 

Logline

Based on a true story, Auschwitz Bagel is a short film that explores three sibling’s dynamic as they are forced to reckon with their father’s new sexuality and familial dysfunction at a particularly awkward time – their great aunt’s funeral.

Synopsis

The story follows Ezra and his two siblings, Daniel, and Lexi, as they return to their hometown of Los Angeles to attend a funeral of their distant great aunt.

The siblings, along with their partners, are forced to confront their old family dynamics, while also grappling with horrible news that was sprung on them suddenly. Not the death of their poor Aunt Inga, but the coming out of their father, Mark, who took this impromptu visit as a time to relieve himself of a long kept secret.

With the whole family in attendance, including the kids’ mom Lisa and Mark’s new boyfriend Samuel, their personal differences begin to boil over in the midst of extended family and surprise guests. However, it’s not until the shiva where things come to a head and a new secret is revealed over bagels and lox.
 

Meet the Filmmakers

Alex Silberberg – Writer/Director
Alex Silberberg has experience working in music videos, documentaries, and narrative short films. After graduating from New York University, he spent his time directing music videos, working with music labels including Concord Records, PhotoFinish, and Fader Label. More recently, Alex began to work in the documentary world. His recent roles include assisting on Albert Brooks: Defending My Life featured on HBO, and his own series Water & Flour, which he directed and produced. Alex has been writing his own short and long form narrative work since his teenage years. He has been developing this specific story since his father came out to him when he was 11 years old.

L.E. Seydel – Executive Producer
Laura Elizabeth (LE) Seydel is an impact-oriented producer and founder of Ted & Jane, a production company that prioritizes ethics and sustainability, based in Los Angeles, California. “Raised in Atlanta, Georgia by a family that prioritized environmental stewardship and social justice awareness, I felt from an early age; if I wasn’t part of the solution, I was part of the problem. As I got older, it became increasingly obvious to me that media & movies were some of the most impactful ways to catalyze change and ultimately, I ended up at the UCLA School of Film and Television. After graduation, I worked on production teams for the biggest pop stars and top Fortune 500 companies, but as the clients and production companies changed, the toxic culture and wasteful practices on these sets remained the same. ‘If you aren’t part of the solution, you are part of the problem.’

Madison McKamey – Cinematographer
Madison McKamey is a cinematographer based in Los Angeles and Paris. Originally starting off in the music video space shooting videos for artists the likes of Usher, Travis Scott, Migos, and YG, Madison moved to Paris part time where he broke into the fashion industry. He has since become the preeminent cinematographer in Paris fashion. His most recent work includes the brands Nike, Louis Vuitton, Hugo Boss, and Amazon Fashion.

Make a donation to Auschwitz Bagel

Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.