About this project
L’Chaim! is an intimate portrait of a man with a rare and significant story. It is the tale of Chaim Lubelski. He gave up a career as a chess player and successful businessman in New York to dedicate himself to his elderly mother, a Holocaust survivor.
As a son of a "survivor" he made it his mission in life to help ease and erase the pain of trauma his parents went through. With remarkable humanity and humor, a true act of altruism, Chaim takes care of his mother 24 hours a day in a home for the elderly in Antwerp. He brings joy to everybody around him. As the documentary follows them through their daily lives, a portrait emerges of a family who, despite of all efforts to heal the wounds from the past, still carries the weight of these scars. It shows how traumas in families get passed on to the next generation and how it affects their daily life.
Chaim developed his own way to deal with this legacy. He refuses to be a victim. Without complaining or making accusations he accepts his fate. Full of vitality and deep faith he is devoted to his mother and his personal life mission. But Chaim’s biggest challenge is yet to come. His life comes to a climatic turning point when he faces his mother’s death. Chaim is forced to find new meaning in his life, which until now he found in his responsibility to his parents.
As the filmmaker and Chaim’s cousin, this documentary has become a very personal journey. It is helping me better understand my own history as a son of Holocaust survivors. At the same time, this is a universal story about humanity and family. L’Chaim! shows we can’t escape the burden of our heritage, but there is always a way towards love, acceptance and understanding.
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This project started two years ago with Elkan’s award winning short film Mama, L’Chaim! which already has received high praise at international festivals all over the world. L’Chaim! is about expanding this short film into a feature length documentary that can reach a wider audience and tell the story of Chaim more in depth. Based on the success of the short film, the overwhelming reaction from the public and positive press, it's apparent there is already an audience for the message and story this film will convey.
Here is the link to watch the short film Mama, L’Chaim!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgFmoLgEAu8
We are already grateful for the generous donation of $5000 from Targum Shlishi, a philanthropic foundation devoted to supporting positive change.
If we reach the goal via
kickstarter and raise the necessary funds,
we will get additional funding of the FFA (German film fund) for the
realisation of the feature documentary, because of the great international
success of the short version of the film. But we have to come up via
kickstarter with the rest of the budget first.
HOW YOUR DONATION WILL BE USED
Your investment will allow me to finish this film and bring it out into the world. Most of the shooting is completed but I still need to cover some final shootings, travel costs and the costly expenses for the POST PRODUCTION (Editing system, a great editor, hard drives, sound-mix, color- correction, subtitles, music, film music rights, archival footage). Once the film is completed I would like to send it to as many film festivals as possible and hopefully raise more funds to cover the festival fees and distribution costs. If this film will be as successful on festivals as the short film than the chances are high, that L’Chaim! will be broadcast by national and international TV-stations. I have already a letter of intent of an international renowned distributor to market this documentary once it is completed - with your support.
HOW KICKSTARTER WORKS
Kickstarter is a new way to fund creative projects. The program uses an all-or-nothing funding method where projects must be fully funded or no money changes hands. Therefore, if we do not raise our goal of $36,000, we lose everything. We do not want this to happen that’s why each contribution is very valuable.
HOW TO DONATE
All you need is a credit card. Just click the “BACK THIS PROJECT” button. You will be asked to input your pledge amount and select a reward. From there, you will go through the Amazon checkout process. You must finish the Amazon checkout process for your pledge to be recorded.
CAN YOU DONATE OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES?
Yes! Just click on the Amazon Payment Button and you will see that you can pay with a credit card from any country! But you must finish the Amazon checkout process for your pledge to be recorded. If you have any problems just contact me.
CAN WE EXCEED THE GOAL?
YES! $36,000 is just A PART of our budget and Kickstarter allows you to raise as much money as is given before the deadline. If we raise more than $36,000, it would allow us to pay for: additional shooting, travel cost, editing various versions of the film for as many different outlets as possible (Theatrical, Domestic Broadcast, International Broadcast), educational distribution (e.g.in schools), festival entries and especially for webpage design, marketing and press.
INTERESTED IN PLAYING AN EVEN LARGER ROLE ON THE FILM?
There is a Co-Executive Producer credit available at $30,000, an Executive Producer credit at $50,000 and a Presenting Partner / Executive Producer credit at $80,000. Your name will appear in the credits for all Festivals, Theatrical and international TV. And IMDB of course! Please note that these are honorary titles and do not require any creative or business involvement/decision-making. Nor does the credit entitle any claim of ownership. These donations are tax deductible in the US through my 501(c)(3) partner.
TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION
If you prefer to make a tax deductible donation in the United States please follow this link.
http://www.katahdin.org/sponsored/l%27chaim/contribute.html
WILL MY PLEDGE BE PUBLICLY DISPLAYED?
No, only you and the project owner will be able to see your pledge. Just let us know that you want to keep this between us and we won't add your name in our credits or on our website.
CAN YOU DONATE IN SOMEONE ELSE'S NAME?
Of course! Just let us know the name you would like to donate under. We will contact you once funding is complete to gather information so that we could deliver your rewards to whom you please. You can also make your donation in honor of loved ones you've lost.
SPREAD THE WORD
One other way you can support L'Chaim! is to post this film on Facebook, Twitter, or a quick e-mail to a few friends. Also, if you know of any organizations that might be interested in this film, please let me know.
WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT?
For more background information about the film the characters, the story or the director, please read the proposal at my blog. (websiste will be soon if we have enough funds). At the end of the proposal you can find also a list of festivals and awards for the short film Mama, L’Chaim!
http://mamatolife.blogspot.com/
Follow us on FACEBOOK: "L'Chaim! (To Life!)"
https://www.facebook.com/pages/LChaim-To-Life/203860063017645?sk=wall
If you have any questions about this film or the kickstarter please feel free to contact me: elkanspiller@gmail.com
Thank you for your support to finish this film and bring it to Life!
L’Chaim! - To Life!
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal 2 days ago.
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
Thank you for supporting this project! Your name will appear on our supporters page on the blog and website of "L’Chaim!" You’ll get a special post card from the short film “Mama, L’Chaim!” signed by Chaim and Elkan.
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
You will receive a free digital download of "L’Chaim!", when the film is released. A thank you card. A postcard from the short film "Mama, L’Chaim!" signed by Chaim and Elkan. Your name will appear on our supporters page on the blog and website of "L’Chaim!".
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
A signed DVD, included pictures of the short film “Mama, L’Chaim!” You will also receive a free digital download of "L’Chaim!" when the film is released and your name will appear on our supporters page on the blog and website of "L’Chaim!".
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
You will receive a special DVD of "L’Chaim!" after film release. Each copy personally signed to you. Your name as a Donor credit on the blog and website of "L’Chaim!" And 2 tickets to a future screening near you with a chance to meet Chaim and Elkan.
Pledge $300 or more Pledge $300 or more
You or your company will get a permanent THANK YOU credit at the end of the film". You will also be able to get more information about the film in a Skype session with Elkan, film discussion and Q&A, director commentary... whatever you'd like! A film poster (limited edition) of the short film “Mama, L’Chaim!“, will be personalized and signed by Chaim and the filmmaker + All of the above.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
Meet the film team at a private screening party in Amsterdam or Cologne in Germany (travel and accommodation not included) or meet the director via Skype to get more information about the film. You will receive 2 special DVD’s of "L’Chaim!" after film release. Each copy personally signed to you. You’ll get 2 tickets to a future screening near you with a chance to meet Chaim and Elkan. You or your company will receive special mention and thanks in the credits at the end of the film.
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
In addition to a special on-screen thank you in the film you will be invited to a lunch with Elkan and sightseeing in Amsterdam. You pick cuisine and I pick a fine restaurant (travel and accommodations not included). Alternatively, a personalized THANK YOU video from Chaim. You are entitled to as long and as many conversations, Skype or otherwise, with Elkan, that you feel you need to learn about the productions and their ongoing status and details. You are invited for a premiere in Europe or USA followed by a thank you dinner with the film team (2 tickets, travel and accommodations not included) + All of the above.
Pledge $2,500 or more Pledge $2,500 or more
In addition to a special on-screen thank you in the film you will be invited to meet Chaim and Elkan via Skype or in person for a kosher lunch in Antwerp. (travel and accommodations are not included). You are also invited for a premiere in Europe or USA followed by a thank you dinner with the film team (2 tickets, travel and accommodations not included). A private screening for you and your guests in your city, hosted by the filmmaker + All of the above.
Pledge $5,000 or more Pledge $5,000 or more
Official credit on the film as an ASSOCIATE PRODUCER. You will receive an invitation to the World Premiere and a thank you dinner with the film team. (2 tickets, travel and accommodations not included). A private screening for you and your guests in your city, hosted by the filmmaker. You and a special guest will be invited to meet Chaim and Elkan via Skype or in person for a kosher lunch in Antwerp. (travel and accommodations not included) + All of the above.
Project By
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Connected as Elkan Spiller (334 friends)
Elkan Spiller grew up in Germany. As a child of Holocaust survivors, he was interested in Jewish history from an early age. He graduated in film and communication from the Berlin “University of the Arts” with a thesis entitled “Antisemitism on German TV”. Since then, he has worked as a freelance journalist for German television (Deutsche Welle, ARD) and produced several short documentaries. He lived and worked in New York, Tel Aviv and the Bay Area around San Francisco for many years. For the last two years Elkan presented his short film "Mama, L’Chaim!" at over 40 film festivals worldwide and received several awards. Currently he spends more time in Europe in order to finish the feature length documentary “L’Chaim!” .
