Remember Belsen
A window into the Holocaust
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Frank Shields
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
To reach out to world audiences a message, that the criminal behaviour as portrayed in "REMEMBER BELSEN" should never be allowed to happen again.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
To remind them they are looking at a window into the Holocaust, an event in modern history that the pure scope of its horrors is almost impossible to grasp.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
How humans react and survive in times of extreme adversity, while trying to understand their jailers and how their liberators and saviours rise to the occasion.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The starting point was securing possibly the most powerful film images of the 20th Century taken at the liberation of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp at the end of WW2. Then add the stories of the victims that were affiliated with those images together with the artists that recorded them for posterity. But even against such a mind-numbing landscape how friendships were forged.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Extremely positive from the first to see the film, from "It is one of the best works about the Holocaust I have ever seen" to "We are all still reeling, but in awe of the great work you have done" to "I really like the way the film started and the fact that while emotional it had a calm presence. The interviewees were amazing in their concise recollections."
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Though surprised by the level of emotion shown by the first audience to see the preview screening of the film, I was most heartened by the response of those not connected in any way with the material.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
To offer a challenging and important film that will take most outside of their comfort zone.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
film festival directors, journalists. distributors
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
The same impact/reception that was shown by its first audience. Then hopefully word of mouth will be an important factor in achieving this.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What should we remember? Or, What does Remember Belsen mean? On viewing there will be no doubt about the answer to either question. Will the viewer compare Belsen with Rwanda, Cambodia or even Ukraine. This film will spark debate.
Would you like to add anything else?
All of the characters in this film who witnessed, survived, saved or recorded this darkest of human events in modern history, will soon be gone. Making this film, REMEMBER BELSEN a timeless document.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
"Eco-warrior: The story of Bob Endean". A cautionary tale about how we lost the Great Barrier Reef. Also looking for a distributor or network to make a four-part TV series about BELSEN using "REMEMBER BELSEN" as a template or pilot.
Interview: July 2022
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
Remember Belsen
Length:
1:45
Writer
FRANK SHIELDS has written for both drama and documentary film. In documentary he wrote the script for his first film "The Breaker" and followed up by co-writing a book on same subject, wrote treatment and script for his latest, "Remember Belsen". In drama he wrote first draft of his first feature "Hostage" and treatment for his second "The Surfer". He has also written a number of other screenplays.
Director
FRANK SHIELDS won best documentary award at Sydney Film Festival in 1975 for his first film, "The Breaker". He has directed documentaries and five features since. His first feature "Hostage" was shot in multiple countries and the second, "The Surfer" was selected for the prestigious Directors Fortnight in Cannes. A highlight was a retrospective of his films shown at the Le Cinematheque in Paris where two features were invited to the Edinburgh and Berlin Film Festivals.
Producer
FRANK SHIELDS has produced a number of documentaries including a TV series and several feature films. His first documentary, "The Breaker" won best documentary at the Sydney Film Festival and his first two features, "Hostage" and "The Surfer" were invited to a number of International film festivals including Cannes, Edinburgh, Berlin and Buenos Aires. His second feature "The Surfer" being invited to Directors Fortnight in Cannes.
Key cast:
Alan Moore, Olga Horak, Eddy Boas, Hetty V. Verolme, George Stein, Helen Schon, Harry Chojna, Mike Lewis, Nadia Wheatley, Thornton McCamish
Narrated by Tony Barry
Looking for:
distributors, journalists, film festival directors
Facebook:
http://facebook.com/rememberbelsen
More info:
rememberbelsen.com
Where can I watch it now?
Melbourne Documentary Film Festival (MDFF) in Melbourne. From 1st July to 31 July watch.eventive.org/mdff Go to Australian Documentary Line and scroll to "Remember Belsen".