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.
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Adam WellsDirector
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Adam WellsWriter
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Nick CanhamProducer
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Grant BrantonProducer
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John Rhys-DaviesKey Cast"Myer"Raiders of the Lost Ark, Lord of The Rings
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Ruth PosnerKey Cast"Leah"
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Gary ShawDirector of PhotographyMUTE, Moon, Ill Manors, Fortitude
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Tree PettsCasting Director
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David MowbrayEditor
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Neil MyersComposer
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Sam Clark-HallProduction Designer
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Elsa Acton-BondCostume
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Christine AllsoppHair & Make Up
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Matthew BraceRe-Recording Mixer
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Luke JacksonLocations
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Paul Van Carter / Nick TaussigExecutive Producers
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Project Type:Short
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Genres:Drama, love
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Runtime:21 minutes 45 seconds
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Completion Date:July 14, 2017
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Production Budget:15,000 GBP
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Country of Origin:United Kingdom
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Country of Filming:United Kingdom
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:266:1
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
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Palm Beach Jewish Film FestivalPalm Beach
United States
January 22, 2018
World Premiere
Nomination : Best Short Film (International / Drama) -
Chicago Jewish Film FestivalChicago
United States
March 4, 2018
Nomination : Best Short Film (International / Drama) -
Near Nazareth Festival 2018Nazareth
Israel
Finalist (Not Screened) -
Robinson International Film Festival 2018Pittsburgh
United States
Semi-Finalist (Not Screened) -
San Diego Jewish Film Festival 2018San Diego
United States
February 12, 2018
Nomination : Best Short Film (International / Drama) -
Cleveland International Film FestivalCleveland
United States
April 5, 2018
Nomination : Best Short Film (International / Drama) -
Festival of ToleranceZagreb
Croatia
April 12, 2018
European Premiere
Official Selection -
British Independent Film FestivalLondon
United Kingdom
June 2, 2018
UK Premiere
Nominations: Best Short Film / Best Actor -
Moscow Jewish Film FestivalMoscow
Russian Federation
May 28, 2018
Russian Premiere
Best Short Film (Narrative)
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.
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.