Film honouring Holocaust rescuers wins Best Short award at major US festival

A documentary following a journey across Europe to meet some of the last surviving people who rescued Jews during the Holocaust has won Best Documentary Short at a film festival in California.

The Righteous Road Trip, which is co-produced by Jewish News and directed by Oscar and Emmy-winning filmmaker Vanessa Roth, received the award at the Burbank International Film Festival, which ran from August 2 to 8.

The 40-minute film follows British-Israeli humanitarian Jonny Daniels and his dog, Tyson, as they travel nearly 2,000 miles through Poland, Slovakia and Hungary in a van packed with Christmas trees and gifts to give to some of the last surviving Righteous Among the Nations – non-Jews recognised by Yad Vashem for risking their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust.

Fewer than 65 of those honoured are believed to still be alive, with many now in their nineties or over 100.

A still from the film The Righteous Road Trip (Credit: The Righteous Road Trip/Big Year Productions)[Missing Credit]

Jewish News co-publisher Justin Cohen conceived the project and serves as one of its producers, working on the film alongside Daniels and Holocaust educator Stephen D Smith, with Roth directing.

Combining footage of Daniels’ journey with archival material, the documentary tells the stories of those who risked their lives to save Jewish neighbours, friends and strangers during the Holocaust.

Jonny Daniels and Righteous Among the Nations recipients in the film The Righteous Road Trip (Credit: The Righteous Road Trip/Big Year Productions)[Missing Credit]

Roth said she was “deeply touched and honoured” by the festival recognition, adding that the award would help bring the rescuers’ stories to wider audiences.

“Thank you to the judges and audiences for recognising the film in this way, and especially for giving the stories of the Righteous Among Nations this moment of celebration and honour for their acts of unparalleled moral courage,” she said.

“This award means so much to our team, and we can’t wait to keep sharing this special film with audiences around the world.”

Jonny Daniels with a Righteous Among the Nations recipient in the film The Righteous Road Trip (Credit: The Righteous Road Trip/Big Year Productions)[Missing Credit]

The award comes less than two months after the film had its world premiere at the Dances With Films festival in Hollywood in June. It has also received recognition at the Croatia International Film Festival, where Roth was named Best Director.

Presented in English, Polish, Hungarian and Hebrew with English subtitles, The Righteous Road Trip was produced in association with From the Depths, 18Reflections and Memory Workers. Philanthropists Eitan Neishlos and Jonathan Zlotolow are among its executive producers.

The Burbank International Film Festival featured more than 120 independent film screenings during its week-long run in the Californian city.

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Righteous Among the Nations

Film honouring Holocaust rescuers wins Best Short award at major US festival

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