Private Project

ELENA'S WAR DANCE

5 year old Elena and her mother go 'on the run' escaping bombings, rape and shellfire during the invasion of Lithuania by Soviet armies in WW2.

Caught between Soviet and German occupation they flee into forests and across borders to escape the certain death awaiting those affiliated to the line of the Russian Tsars.

  • Jennifer Treur
    Director
  • Jennifer Treur
    Writer
  • Jennifer Treur
    Producer
  • Elena Treur
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    57 minutes 56 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 28, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    18,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital HD
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Florence Film Awards June 2019
    Florence
    Italy
    FINALIST, Feature Documentary
  • LA Edge Film Awards May-June 2019
    Los Angeles
    United States
    FINALIST, (Runner-up) Documentary Short
  • TheIndieFest Film Awards March-May 2019
    Los Angeles
    United States
    WINNER, Award of Merit, Women Filmmakers
  • Latitude Film Awards April-May 2019
    London
    United Kingdom
    WINNER, Gold Award, Documentary Feature
  • Hollywood Sun Awards July-August 2019
    Los Angeles
    WINNER, Best Documentary Feature
  • Accolade Global Film Awards Competition June-August 2019
    La Jolla
    United States
    WINNER, Award of Merit, Women Filmmakers
  • Oniros Film Awards ® July 2019
    Saint-Vincent, (AO)
    Italy
    Honourable Mention, Documentary Feature
  • Oniros Film Awards ® July 2019
    Saint-Vincent, (AO)
    Italy
    WINNER, Best War Film, Documentary
  • Los Angeles Film Awards August 2019
    Los Angeles
    WINNER, Best Indie Feature
  • Los Angeles Film Awards Annual Competition 2019
    Los Angeles
    NOMINEE (ANNUAL) Best Indie Feature
  • Festigious Film Festival Awards August 2019
    Los Angeles
    WINNER, Best Visual Effects
  • Festigious Film Festival Awards August 2019
    Los Angeles
    WINNER, Best First Time Director, Feature
  • Festigious Film Festival Awards August 2019
    Los Angeles
    WINNER, Best Indie Feature
  • Festigious Film Festival Awards September 2019
    Los Angeles
    WINNER, Best Sound Design
  • Festigious Film Festival Awards September 2019
    Los Angeles
    WINNER, Inspiring Woman in a Film
  • Festigious Film Festival Awards September 2019
    Los Angeles
    WINNER, Best Indie Filmmaker
  • Festigious Film Festival Annual Competition 2019
    Los Angeles
    NOMINEE (ANNUAL) Best Indie Feature
  • Festigious Film Festival Annual Competition 2019
    Los Angeles
    NOMINEE (ANNUAL) Best First Time Director, Feature
  • FilmCon Awards September 2019
    United States
    United States
    WINNER, Best Indie Filmmaker
  • FilmCon Awards September 2019
    United States
    United States
    WINNER, Best Inspirational Film
  • FilmCon Awards September 2019
    United States
    United States
    WINNER, Best Indie Feature
  • Vegas Movie Awards, October 2019
    Las Vegas
    WINNER, Award of Prestige, Best Visual Effects
  • Vegas Movie Awards, October 2019
    Las Vegas
    WINNER, Award of Prestige, Best 1st Time Director
  • Vegas Movie Awards, October 2019
    Las Vegas
    WINNER, Award of Prestige, Best Indie Feature
  • Docs Without Borders Film Awards 2020

    United States
    WINNER, Exceptional Merit [2 Awards]
Director Biography - Jennifer Treur

Jennifer Treur

Originally training in theatre, television and advertising in NZ, Jennifer migrated to Australia as a permanent resident working as an art / creative director in agencies.

Co-founding creative consultancy, JAM Directions she has written and directed TV commercials, campaigns and video for healthcare, fashion, fitness, government, music artists, festivals and production companies.

With a growing passion for films and filmmaking Jennifer worked for several years with WOW Film Festival NSW until 2012 as a creative direction consultant, creating image, print, ads, website and cinema trailers for the festival and this experience was followed by a contract to do Post Production design and creative consulting for an international feature length medical documentary for Asia Geographic.

Around this time period Jennifer conceived the idea of telling her mother’s story, 'Elena’s War Dance' as an independent production.

To assist her production she studied documentary with a Tom Zubrycki Masterclass and other AFTRS and MetroScreen modules completing an Advanced Diploma in Screen and Media. She has also completed Masterclasses with: Werner Herzog, Ken Burns, Martin Scorsese, David Mamet, Helen Mirren, Hans Zimmer and Ron Howard.

'Elena's War Dance' described by Film Reviewers as;

'very beautiful visually with great music - editing, sound & lighting on point. Great technique!'

'Inspiring, creative and original, touching, brave and honest' Filmcon

'This inspiring documentary, directed by Jennifer Treur, presents Elena’s unbelievable story of survival and hope. Through archive footage, 3d animation, visual effects, music, live-action scenes, and Elena’s interview (now an 85-year-old woman), we enter the early life of Elena and her mother.' Festigious

https://www.jennifertreurproductions.com

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

‘Elena’s War Dance’ is the story of little 5year old Elena’s survival with vivid recollections when she went ‘on the run’ with her mother from invading Russian armies during the occupation and invasion of Lithuania by Soviet and German troops – WW2.

As Elena’s family had affiliation to the overthrown Russian Tsars, they faced certain death from Soviet policies by remaining in Lithuania. 

Surviving bombings and the cross-fire from German and Soviet artillery Elena and her mother sheltered in forests and barns, escaping wolves, predators and possible rape before crossing borders and the Baltic Coast into Germany.

Elena describes in detail her dangerous 'dance with war and death’ before and after arriving in Germany. She encountered unimaginable horrors, including hearing people screaming for their lives after fiery bombings and seeing raped women and dead bodies everywhere. To cope with the trauma of war, young Elena follows her mother’s footsteps into dancing as she learns to entertain with her wit and humour.

As her daughter, I really wanted to feel 'little Elena's' experiences and make her story come to life in film by use of music, sound, animation and effects.

Elena’s account is of deep historical value as she is one of a declining number of civilians still alive that experienced first-hand the dangers of being a child refugee from the Baltic States during WW2.

Jennifer Treur