Peter Hegedüs, Jaclyn McClendon, Bobbi-Lea Dionysius
Griffith University Dalarna University
Griffith Film School
226 Grey Street, South Bank, Brisbane
Webb Centre (Building S02), 7th floor Board Room
Artist Statement
Sorella’s Story came about through finding a photograph on the web while researching for another project on a Holocaust survivor – the photograph, taken in 1941, was of a group of Jewish women and 11-year-old girl, Sorella Epstein, half undressed, in freezing temperatures on the beaches of Skede, near Liepaja, Latvia, minutes before their execution by Nazi troops. I felt compelled to immortalise their story for future generations, to emphasise how prejudice if not challenged can lead to extreme violence.
I wanted to be brave with this film… to pour all my energy into creating something that will go against the tide of Holocaust fatigue. To create an experience that emotionally connects people across cultures, demographics and economic divides, to the Holocaust and alert them to how genocides are continuing to occur in our world. I am the grandson of a Holocaust survivor and have personally experienced anti-Semitism. As a filmmaker, I want to tell stories about the Holocaust that push boundaries and engage with new audiences, especially the younger generation. I began to experiment with new media technology, filming in a 360 space. We shot the film in Hungary using professional and semi-professional actors almost exactly on the same dates as the massacre that happened 78 years earlier.
The artists acknowledge Griffith Film School, Destructing Violence Beacon – Griffith University, Screen Queensland, Screen Australia, Dalarna University and the Gandall Foundation for their support.
About the artists
Peter Hegedüs (Writer, Director, Producer)
Peter is an Australian-Hungarian filmmaker who has been making films since 17, exploring human stories focusing on social justice.
His critically acclaimed work has won numerous awards at major Film Festivals around the world and broadcast internationally. His first documentary GRANDFATHERS & REVOLUTIONS explored the story of his grandfather, Hungary’s Prime Minister during the Russian invasion, premiered in Krakow winning two of the prizes. His other documentary INHERITANCE was shortlisted for an Academy Award. Peter’s filmmaking can be characterised by his Eastern European heritage.
Peter is also the Deputy Director for Research & Engagement at the Griffith Film School.
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Jaclyn McClendon (Producer)
Jaclyn is a collaborative leader that values diversity, and inclusivity, and encourages bold thinking and challenging the status quo.
She is a events and stakeholder relationship specialist having worked in this field over the past 20 years in Australia and the UK. She was one of the inaugural Obama Foundation: Leaders Asia Pacific Leaders in 2019.
Jaclyn is the Executive Director of River Festival Limited, a new not-for-profit charged with establishing a Meander – a new river-based festival to ignite state and city pride and critically standing as the only major city festival built from and about its natural icon.
Jaclyn is also a Director of the Asia Pacific Screen Academy (APSA), which proudly presents the region’s highest accolade in film, the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and innovative peer to peer screen industry event the Asia Pacific Screen Forum.
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Bobbi-Lea (Producer, Impact Producer)
Bobbi-Lea is an award-winning creative producer and impact producer, focusing on social impact documentaries and mixed-media 360 projects. A passionate advocate for gender equity and diversity, Bobbi-Lea is the current Chair of the WIFT QLD Chapter (Women in Film & TV), and a member on the Equality, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Council at Griffith Film School. She also held the role of Festival Director of WIFT V-FEST online women’s film festival.
Bobbi-Lea’s accolades include a John Darling Fellowship 7-week placement in Indonesia, a three-time Golden Key Honour Scholar and a LiveLab Award for academic excellence for her Masters’ Degree at Griffith Film School, where she is now working as a tutor, as well as lecturing at JMC Academy.
Her Producing credits include: Sorella’s Story, a 360-immersive short film which premiered in-competition at Venice International Film Festival, the AACTA nominated feature documentary To Never Forget, and the broadcast documentary In Their Name (Compass, ABC).
Credits: Peter Hegedüs (Writer, Director, Producer), Jaclyn McClendon (Producer), Bobbi-Lea (Producer, Impact Producer)