No Asylum: The Untold Chapter of Anne Frank's Story
The stunning discovery of the lost letters of Anne Frank's father, Otto reveal an unknown chapter of their family's life.
Interview with Director/Producer Paula Fouce
Watch No Asylum: The Untold Chapter of Anne Frank's Story on Vudu, Prime Video and iTunes
Main photo: Buddy Elias, Anne Frank's cousin, at her grave
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I was trapped in a religious riot in India and nearly lost my life. This terrifying experience sent me on a search to find the reasons and solutions to "killing in the name of God." I produced the film (PBS stations) and wrote the book: Not in God's Name. But as Anne Frank is the icon of tolerance and respect, and I realized that the story of her father - Otto and the newly discovered letters revealing his struggle to obtain visas and save his family - would spread Anne's important message.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
The deep writing and thoughts of Anne Frank ring true even today, 70 years after her death. No Asylum demonstrates how the refugee crisis during World War II mirrors today, and follows the Frank family's quest for a safe haven - and the tragic results of their not finding one.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Prejudice and anti-Semitism are universal themes, they impact all of our communities, although it is a minority of people who hold these attitudes. In today's world, there are 50 conflicts being fought at any time in the name of religion.
No Asylum: The Untold Chapter of Anne Frank's Story: Major Leonard Berney, who liberated the Camp where Anne and her sister, Margot died
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
As we gathered materials for No Asylum, they dictated who told the story. Anne Frank's relatives, the Holocaust survivors who knew the Franks, and Major Leonard Berney, who liberated the Camp where Anne and her sister, Margot died, were keen to help fight against Holocaust deniers.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Very excellent comments, viewers feel that No Asylum is a powerful and emotional film. It is screening worldwide in places such as Hiroshima, the Topf & Sons Place of Remembrance, where the Auschwitz ovens were built, the audience cried for 15 minutes and needed a second viewing so many people came. It will be screened at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva. It is translated into German and Japanese and will continue to be demanded in many languages.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The feedback has strengthened my point of view, I feel that human beings are inherently good. We have developed a teaching curriculum that will be distributed with the film for education.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
To raise public awareness for No Asylum and its important universal messages of tolerance and respect.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Additional distributors, especially domestic, and colleges, schools, civil rights, Museums, Holocaust Centers - the educational component of No Asylum is huge.
No Asylum: The Untold Chapter of Anne Frank's Story
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We would like the film to have a strong effect on people's thought processes about prejudice, and about asylum, and we would like the film to be screened in classrooms that read Anne's Diary.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Do you feel that No Asylum is still relevant today? Can we learn from what happened to the Frank family?
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
We are working on the documentary film, The Dark Hobby, about how exotic fish species are being wiped out by the aquarium trade. And how this is affecting the reefs and the oceans.
Interview: June 2017
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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No Asylum: The Untold Chapter of Anne Frank's Story
The stunning discovery of the lost letters of Anne Frank's father, Otto reveal an unknown chapter of their family's life.
Length: 75 min.
Director: Paula Fouce
Producer: Paula Fouce
Writer: Michael Flores/ Paula Fouce
Michael Flores earned his Master of Fine Arts in Cinema-Television Production at USC. He's worked on several award winning films. He teaches at DePaul University.
Paula Fouce's other films on tolerance and various faiths include: Song of the Dunes, Not in God’s Name, Naked In Ashes, and Origins of Yoga.
Key cast: Eva Schloss, Buddy Elias, Leonard Berney, Jonathan Brent, Katie Otter
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Journalists, Domestic Distributors & TV, Festival Directors
Social media handles:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoAsylumFilm/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/noasylumfilm?lang=en
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noasylumfilm/
Other: Website: www.//noasylumfilm.com/
Made in association with: The YIVO Institute for Jewish Research
Where can I see it in the next month?
It's streaming now on YouTube, iTunes, VUDU, AMAZON, GooglePlay, X-Box