Private Project

Shemira

Myer - a survivor of humanity's greatest crime - spends one final night alongside his beloved, Leah. After over six decades since Leah became his wife, death has separated them. The story takes place across one night during the ritual of Shemira, the Jewish tradition of guarding a body from death to burial. We are the invisible witness to their intimate, private farewell from one another - an outpouring of Myer's memories, from the seemingly insignificant and incidental, to the life-changing and unexpected.

  • Adam Wells
    Director
  • Adam Wells
    Writer
  • Nick Canham
    Producer
  • Grant Branton
    Producer
  • John Rhys-Davies
    Key Cast
    "Myer"
    Raiders of the Lost Ark, Lord of The Rings
  • Ruth Posner
    Key Cast
    "Leah"
  • Gary Shaw
    Director of Photography
    MUTE, Moon, Ill Manors, Fortitude
  • Tree Petts
    Casting Director
  • David Mowbray
    Editor
  • Neil Myers
    Composer
  • Sam Clark-Hall
    Production Designer
  • Elsa Acton-Bond
    Costume
  • Christine Allsopp
    Hair & Make Up
  • Matthew Brace
    Re-Recording Mixer
  • Luke Jackson
    Locations
  • Paul Van Carter / Nick Taussig
    Executive Producers
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, love
  • Runtime:
    21 minutes 45 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 14, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    266:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival
    Palm Beach
    United States
    January 22, 2018
    World Premiere
    Nomination : Best Short Film (International / Drama)
  • Chicago Jewish Film Festival
    Chicago
    United States
    March 4, 2018
    Nomination : Best Short Film (International / Drama)
  • Near Nazareth Festival 2018
    Nazareth
    Israel
    Finalist (Not Screened)
  • Robinson International Film Festival 2018
    Pittsburgh
    United States
    Semi-Finalist (Not Screened)
  • San Diego Jewish Film Festival 2018
    San Diego
    United States
    February 12, 2018
    Nomination : Best Short Film (International / Drama)
  • Cleveland International Film Festival
    Cleveland
    United States
    April 5, 2018
    Nomination : Best Short Film (International / Drama)
  • Festival of Tolerance
    Zagreb
    Croatia
    April 12, 2018
    European Premiere
    Official Selection
  • British Independent Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    June 2, 2018
    UK Premiere
    Nominations: Best Short Film / Best Actor
  • Moscow Jewish Film Festival
    Moscow
    Russian Federation
    May 28, 2018
    Russian Premiere
    Best Short Film (Narrative)
Director Biography - Adam Wells

Adam Wells, Shemira’s writer and director, is an established director and creative in Advertising and Broadcast working primarily out of Production Company gotgotneed, in the UK.

Born and raised in Leeds, Adam studied Art & Design at Jacob Kramer College, before moving to Sheffield to study Design & Animation. After two years as a Junior Designer at Yorkshire Television, Adam moved to London to work for BSkyB, initially working as a broadcast designer, before following his ambition into directing.

During his 16 years directing for television, Adam has been recognised by the Royal Television Society and received two craft nominations from BAFTA. Shemira is Adam's first film project.

“Shemira" was initially inspired many years ago by the childhood journey of the late broadcaster, interfaith leader and Rabbi, Hugo Gryn, who personally helped shape the lives of Adam’s parents. This film is Adam's first venture into writing and directing in this medium.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Over 70 years have passed since the Liberation of Auschwitz. As each subsequent year concludes, those who lived through the horrors of this darkest time in human history will continue to reduce in number.

Adam researched individual testimonies. personal journeys and spoke with several Survivors, now elderly Jewish men and women. As children, whose lives and families were ripped apart during the chaos of World War II, many emerged from this human tragedy to rebuild their lives in the UK, from nothing, with no-one.

He learned that, despite the traumas they encountered in Nazi Europe, their message is often positive; of defiance, survival, love, success and hope. Yet many fear a time in the not-so-distant future where they are gone, confined to pages of our history books, with a message at risk of being forgotten.

“Shemira” is a result of this research, highlighting the positive contribution Survivors of the Holocaust gave to their new found homes, through their resilience, their ambition and their legacy. All had one consistent message for the future; continue to tell the stories of those who are no longer able to tell the story for themselves.