L’CHAIM

Directed by Semon Shabaev (Germany)

Antisemitism

Nineteen-year-old Semon Shabaev is part of a thriving Jewish community in Berlin, Germany. Despite his country’s dark history, Shabaev embraces his religious and cultural heritage.

As the last generation of Holocaust survivors fades, a new wave of Jews, including Shabaev’s family, has emigrated to the country that attempted to eradicate them. Shabaev interviews community leaders, friends, and rabbis, observes a remembrance service, and facilitates a cross-cultural workshop, as he examines German-Jewish identity.

Mentored by filmmaker Anja Baron, Shabaev shines a light on resurgent Jewish life in Germany at a time of rising worldwide antisemitism.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

“I hope to help people understand the history of Jews in Germany, its impact on the present generation, and the danger of rising antisemitism.”
– Semon Shabaev

MENTOR’S STATEMENT

“BYkids empowers youth in lasting ways while creating an invaluable platform for the global issues of a future generation. The viewer is afforded a rare glimpse into often-marginalized existences and given an opportunity to see important issues in a new light. Shining such a light on one story often shines a light on the greater whole. The results are genuinely powerful and empowering all at once.”
– Anja Baron