Publications
- A new film showcases the extraordinary life of Ella Blumenthal, 101, one of the last remaining Holocaust survivors in South Africa.
- In I Am Here, Ella opens up to close friends and family about her journey of survival in a way she has never done before.
- The award-winning documentary will be released at the Labia Cinema in Cape Town on 23 December 2022.
It's not every day you meet someone more than a century old. Now, a new film showcases the extraordinary life of Ella Blumenthal, 101, whose magnetic personality makes her past even more surprising.
The documentary I Am Here follows this spirited South African Holocaust survivor as she reveals her astonishing journey and unwavering appreciation of life.
Despite surviving one of history's darkest systematic genocides during WWII, Ella has reclaimed her life and inspires others with her tenacity and bubbly personality. As one of the last remaining survivors in South Africa, her message of love and tolerance could not be more relevant in a world still plagued with xenophobia and discrimination.
In I Am Here, we meet Ella at her 98th birthday celebration, where she opens up to close friends and family about her journey of survival in a way she has never done before. Her memories are depicted through dynamic 2D animation, innovatively bringing her storytelling to life and resonating with audiences across generations.
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:
"Ella's feisty, upbeat personality makes her a fantastic raconteur and wonderful character to follow in this film," said Benjamin Cowley, CEO of Gravel Road Distribution Group.
I Am Here was directed by Jordy Sank, produced by Gabriella Blumberg and was supported by a grant from The Conference on Jewish Material Claims against Germany.
This has led to the film connecting with audiences worldwide, with multiple awards already secured. Most recently, I Am Here won three prestigious Golden Horns at the South African Film and Television Awards for Best Documentary, Best Achievement in Editing and Best Achievement in Cinematography.
It also won Best South African Documentary at the Durban International Film Festival and has received four Audience Choice Awards and two Awards for Best Director during its extensive film festival run.
I Am Here will be released at the Labia Cinema in Cape Town on 23 December 2022.
