Join us for an unforgettable presentation by Holocaust survivor Anita Magnus Frank who shares her powerful story of resilience, courage, and hope. Through personal anecdotes and vivid memories, she takes us on a journey through one of history's darkest chapters, offering invaluable lessons and a unique perspective on survival, strength, and the enduring human spirit. Stick around later in the evening as we screen Anita's powerful short film A Great Big Secret as part of Program 2.

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Program 2

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21 at 7:00 PM

Film: A Great Big Secret

Q&A with Film Subject Anita Frank

ANITA MAGNUS FRANK was born in 1936 in Emmen, a small town in northern Holland. The Nazis invaded the Netherlands in 1940, and Anita and her four siblings were eventually forced into hiding in 1942. Anita and her siblings spent the next two years as Hidden Children, separated from the rest of their family until the liberation of South Holland in 1944.

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Program 2

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21 at 7:00 PM

Film: Empty Nest

Q&A with Writer/Actress Jill Remez

JILL REMEZ, an actress and a writer, is thrilled her film, Empty Nest, will be screening at the festival. She has written several plays and screenplays. Her play, Writing on the Wall, was a finalist in the Henley Rose Playwright Competition, The Morgan Wixson New Play Festival, The Open Fist Theatre's First Look Festival and the Austin Film Festival. As an actress, she has performed in theatres throughout Southern California including The Mark Taper Forum, South Coast Repertory and The Laguna Playhouse. Her TV and film credits include BOSCH: LEGACY, YELLOWSTONE, THIS IS US, THE NEIGHBORHOOD, CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, THE GOOD PLACE, MADE FOR LOVE & CRIMINAL MINDS. She has lent her voice to several anime characters. She also teaches acting and voiceover.

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Program 4

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 22 at 1:30 PM

Film: I See You (United States)

Q&A with Director Michael Carnick

Michael Carnick is a screenwriter and director from San Diego, California. In 2005, while studying Theatre and Dance at UCSD, Michael was unanimously voted for first place at the Samuel Goldwyn Writing Awards. In 2015, Michael independently produced a feature film based on his Goldwyn award winning script “Who's Driving Doug”, starring RJ Mitte as the titular Doug. “Who's Driving Doug” is semi-autobiographical and centered on personal events from Michael's life. The film was sold to Netflix for online streaming rights in 2016. In 2018, Michael directed and wrote the independent TV pilot “Manny Fantasma”, which premiered at the Santa Monica Film Festival on December 8th, garnering the Emerging Director Award. The following year, Michael directed the feature length drama “The Forbidden Wish". Michael was born with a rare physical disability which confines him to an electric wheelchair. His work is often centered around the themes of disability awareness and the human experience of being a minority. He often highlights disability, LGBTQ+, and race inequality using empathy and deep self reflection of the human spirit.

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Program 5

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23 at 3:30 PM

Film: Tracks: Stumbling Stones Amsterdam

Q&A with Director Maclovia Martel & Producer Michael Potter

Maclovia Martel is an LA based, artist, writer, song writer, documentarian. Trained at Otis College of Art she earned her BFA and became a Fine Artist and Sculpture. Using all she encompassed through short films in school, Music, and her Fine art background, she began making documentaries and writing. Tracks: Stumbling Stones Amsterdam, is a Documentary remembering those who were murdered in the Holocaust and remembered by a Local artist, Alexander Stukenburg. Her newest Feature Documentary “103,” is the true story of a French/Jewish girl who became a spy in Nazi Germany, Marthe Cohn.

Michael Potter is an Entrepreneur, Social Enterprise Advisor & Documentary Filmmaker.

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Program 6

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23 at 7:00 PM

Film: Katya's Hand

Q&A with Director/Writer Tom Shoval | MGSDII visiting professor at SDSU Fall 2024

TOM SHOVAL was born in Petah Tikva, Israel in 1981. He studied at the Sam Spiegel School of Jerusalem. He is a director and scriptwriter TV series and feature films, including Youth that won the Best Film award at the Jerusalem International Film Festival in 2013, and that has screened at the Berlinale, Karlovy Vary and CPH:PIX, among many other festivals.