The groundbreaking film package To Never Forget and Sorella’s Story, that together innovatively explore the Latvian Holocaust, have been selected to screen at the Brisbane International Film Festival (27 October – 6 November). Sorella’s Story follows its world premiere at the prestigious Venice Film Festival.
To Never Forget is a feature documentary that follows the challenging 3-year process of bringing the immersive 360 film Sorella’s Story to fruition revealing how the Holocaust continues to affect lives, families and geopolitics today.
Viewed through a VR headset, Sorella’s Story stands the viewer in a 360° snowy landscape with 10-year-old Sorella Epstein and a group of Latvian Jewish women ordered to undress in freezing temperatures prior to mass execution on a beach in Liepaja, Latvia during the Holocaust.
Both films are written, directed, and produced by Peter Hegedus (Lili, Strudel Sisters), and produced by Jaclyn McLendon and Bobbi-Lea Dionysius. All of whom will be participating in a Q&A after the world premiere of To Never Forget at BIFF, Saturday 29 October, Brisbane Powerhouse.
The films are a visceral and timely reminder and warning of how prejudice can escalate to devastating tragedy and comes at a time when the memory of the Holocaust is, alarmingly, fading, especially with the younger generations.
For director Peter Hegedus, whose feature documentary Inheritance: A Fisherman’s Story (2004) was shortlisted for an Academy Award, says using 360° technology has enabled a more impactful way to connect with the story, while the more traditional documentary provides current context and call for action for the holocaust to be remembered.
“I was deeply moved by the image of the women in the photograph and wanted to be brave, to tell stories about the Holocaust that push boundaries and engage with new audiences. With Sorella’s Story we set out to create an experience to emotionally connect people across cultures, demographics, and economic divides.
To Never Forget is a Soul Vision Films production in association with Griffith Film School, Screen Queensland, Griffith University’s Disrupting Violence Beacon and Dalarna University Sweden.
Sorella’s Story is a Soul Vision Films production, with principal production funding from Screen Australia in association with Griffith Film School, Screen Queensland, Griffith University’s Disrupting Violence Beacon and Dalarna University Sweden, with educational materials developed in collaboration with the Melbourne Holocaust Museum, supported by the Gandel Foundation.
To Never Forget – https://biff.com.au/film/to-never-forget/
Sorella’s Story – https://biff.com.au/film/360-vr-experience-sorellas-story/
