FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Seanna Hore, Ginsberg/Libby
seanna.hore@ginsberglibby.com

Gladys Santos, Ginsberg/Libby
gladys.santos@ginsberglibby.com
 

LOS ANGELES (July 23, 2024) — Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization celebrating 40 years of the Spirit Awards, announced a new initiative as part of its Film Independent Presents screening program: Always Remember, a six-month series of free, virtual screenings designed to raise Holocaust awareness through cinema, with the support of the Cayton-Goldrich Family Foundation and The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference).

“Film Independent welcomes the opportunity to share these powerful films about the Holocaust,” said Josh Welsh, President of Film Independent. “As an arts organization, we believe in the potential of film to build understanding, amplify diverse voices and stories, and foster empathy and awareness. With Always Remember, we are able to help shine a much-needed light on impactful accounts of the Holocaust by highlighting LGBTQ+ stories, women’s perspectives, stories of resistance, youth experiences and more.”

The series, running from June through November, will offer monthly selections of films designed to amplify diverse voices and experiences relating to the Holocaust. The selected titles include a mix of feature-length films and shorts, animated and live-action, documentary and scripted series from filmmakers around the world. To provide an opportunity for viewers to dive even deeper into the material, many of the screenings feature exclusive interviews with the series’ filmmakers. All films are free to screen within a two-week viewing period each month.

Always Remember comes in response to a groundbreaking 50-state survey conducted by the Claims Conference that revealed an alarming lack of basic Holocaust knowledge among Millennials and Gen Z. With informative and inspiring stories about the Holocaust, this series comes at a crucial time when fewer survivors are still alive to share their experiences and have their stories told – and levels of antisemitism are on the rise.
 
Upcoming screenings include:
 
July: Cross-Cultural Rescue
Anna and the Egyptian Doctor (dir. Taliya Finkel, 2022, 85 mins)
Sevap/Mitzvah (dir. Sabina Vajrača, 2023, 20 mins)

August: A Child’s Perspective
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit (dir. Caroline Link, 2021, 119 mins)
263 Nights (dir. Irina Tarasova, 2021, 27 mins)

September: Resistance
Remember This (dir. Jeff Hutchens & Derek Goldman, 2023, 95 mins)
Sabotage (dir. Noa Aharoni, 2022, 65 mins)

October: Aftermath
Love It Was Not (dir. Maya Sarfaty, 2020, 86 mins)

November: Memorialization and Remembrance
Anyuka (dir. Maya Erdelyi, 2023, 20 mins)
Jack and Sam (dir. Jordan Horowitz, 2023, 20 mins)
116 Cameras (dir. Davina Pardo, 2017, 16 mins)
The Anne Frank Gift Shop (dir. Mickey Rapkin, 2023, 15 mins)
Death Metal Grandma (dir. Leah Galant, 2018, 14 mins)
 
For more information about Film Independent and Always Remember, visit filmindependent.org/alwaysremember.

Always Remember Q&As will also be available on Film Independent’s YouTube channel: youtube.com/filmindependent.
 

ABOUT FILM INDEPENDENT

For 40 years, Film Independent has helped filmmakers get their projects made and seen. The nonprofit organization’s core mission is to champion creative independence in visual storytelling in all its forms, and to foster a culture of inclusion. We support a global community of artists and audiences who embody diversity, innovation, curiosity and uniqueness of vision.

In addition to producing the Film Independent Spirit Awards, the organization supports creative professionals with Artist Development programs, grants and labs. Signature mentorship program Project Involve fosters the careers of talented filmmakers from underrepresented communities. Education events and workshops equip filmmakers of all ages and experience levels with tools and resources. Global Media Makers, a cultural exchange program produced in partnership with the U.S. Department of State, provides career-building opportunities for international film professionals. And year-round screening series Film Independent Presents offers a robust program of unique cinematic experiences, including screenings, conversations, Live Reads and Bring the Noise musical events.

For more information or to become a Member, visit filmindependent.org.