Haunted from the beginning to the very end, Noch Am Leben/ Still Alive is the story of a woman’s recollection of her mad Holocaust survivor great aunt.

Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Anita Lester

Watch Still Alive / Noch Am Leben here:

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

I made Still Alive as a record of the legacy the women in my family carry. The Holocaust is a large part of my life, and my elders, unlike many survivor stories that are publicised, didn’t recover emotionally. I felt it would be interesting to document eugenics in a different and relatable format.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

It’s not much more than a personal story, but because emotional distress is such a taboo, I would hope it would open the conversation in a sad and beautiful way.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

Both. There is nothing new under the sun.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

It was not intended to be a narrative from my perspective. Through extensive research, I found that the protagonist in my film (My great aunt Eva), was not in fact triumphant in her survival, but broken by it. It felt wrong telling her story, so I spoke the greater woman in my tribe from my voice. It was a constantly evolving process.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

Mostly people have found connections to their own stories. It has been generally moving for people I believe - which is the highest compliment.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

I didn’t expect it to be so widely appreciated…being such a personal story. It’s been beautiful to hear other people’s stories that fall into the same themes.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

I think art is just always about speaking truth and hoping to assist with a connection.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

Festivals have been incredibly impactful - as well as online curated sites. I’ve also had Jewish museums acquire it for their collections…more of that!

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

To open conversations that may have been taboo otherwise.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

The question of genetic trauma - Eugenics and if we can inherit pain.

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

I am working on a body of work that reflects music about romantic pain.

Interview: September 2018

We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. 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

Still Alive/ Noch Am Leben

Haunted from the beginning to the very end, Noch Am Leben/ Still Alive is the story of a woman’s recollection of her mad Holocaust survivor great aunt.

Length: 8 mins

Director: Anita Lester

Producer: Anita Lester

Writer: Anita Lester

About the writer, director and producer:

ANITA LESTER is a multidisciplinary artist with a focus on darker subject matter being expressed through her mediums. After studying Illustration and Animation at RMIT, Anita has worked in the Children’s book industry as a published author, and as an accomplished animator for film, music video and television. Recently Anita’s 2017 film ‘Noch Am Leben (Still Alive)’, was awarded multiple prizes and is currently screening in over 20 globally, including Oscar contending festivals in the US, UK and EU.

Looking for: Distributors, festivals, journalists

Social media handles: @a.d.lester.illustration

Facebook: adlesterillustration

Twitter: @iamanitalester

Instagram:@a.d.lester.illustration

Other: www.adlessterillustration.com

Funders: Jewish International Film Festival

Made in association with: JIFF

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Vimeo