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Logline

Two Jewish sisters must reconcile their clashing lifestyles on the day their father wakes up from a coma.

Synopsis

Noa and Dani, sisters who’ve taken distinctly different paths in life, arrive at the hospital to visit their father Chaim, who’s in a coma from attempted suicide. Noa’s spent all week there. She’s become accustomed to the flood of Christmas décor, the mispronunciation of her surname and the strange inquiries a Jewish person receives. Today though, Chaim wakes up, and chooses to act like nothing happened, hitting Noa and Dani like a ton of bricks. As the two grapple with the situation, they find themselves teaming up for the first time in years- against hospital staff, their dad, the stale cafeteria cookies… As Noa and Dani come to terms with Chaim’s intent to make his own life choices, they become further empathic and understanding of each other’s life choices too. Chaim’s Not Dead is a dramedy that explores first-generation Americans and their immigrant parents, as well as sisterhood and the question of assimilation, told from the unique perspective of two Jewish-American sisters.
 

Meet the Filmmakers

Dylan Silver – Writer/Director
Silver is a writer-director and actor. She was a Women In Film 2022 Director Mentee as well as a 2022 Sundance Lab Fellow. Her directorial debut, A MIND LIKE STILL WATER, premiered on Amazon’s ‘Top 5 Must Watch’ List. Her shorts HYPE MAN: A BREAK BEAT FILM premiered at the NY Hip Hop Film Festival, SOUL SURVIVOR at HollyShorts Film Festival and her latest work HOME SWEET HOME is in festival consideration. A first-generation American, Silver loves telling vulnerable, heartfelt stories that ignite laughter where you least expect it. She also bowls a strong 73.

Producer – Jennifer Apple
Jennifer Apple is an actor, performance coach and podcast host. She received her MFA in Acting from A.C.T. and founded the EMPOWERED ARTISTS COLLECTIVE, an incubator- turned-podcast, to help artists foster thriving and sustainable careers. She recently won the Elliot Norton award for Best Actress in THE BAND’S VISIT. Apple has always held a passion for storytelling, particularly stories from the Jewish perspective.

Producer – David Grove Churchill Viste
David is a Spirit Award-nominated producer with a penchant for sailing. His latest work includes SHUDDER Original’s BIRTH/REBIRTH at SUNDANCE ‘23, HOW TO BLOW UP A PIPELINE which premiered at TIFF ’22, and THE WIND which premiered at TIFF ’18, You’ll probably find him on a sailboat with a phone cradled to his ear prepping the next project.

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Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.