November 16th and 17th, 2015, the documentary film “Survival in Shanghai” had its premier screening in New York City, and then another screening in Washington D.C. The two events attracted more than 1000 people, and have received strong feedback. These film screenings were hosted by China General Chamber of Commerce – U.S.A. (CGCC), Shanghai Media Group, Appeal of Conscience Foundation, and Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum, supported by Consulate of China in New York, Consulate of Israel in New York, and Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C.
November 16, 2015, evening, the film’s premiere screening, along with the opening of “Jewish Refugees in Shanghai” worldwide photo exhibition, was held at Park East Synagogue in New York City. Guests who attended the event were Liu Jieyi, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Zhang Qiyue, consul general of China in New York, Rabbi Arthur Scheneier, founder and president of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation and senior rabbi of Park East Synagogue in New York, Amir Sagie, deputy consul general of Israel in New York, and Xu Chen, Chairman of CGCC and President & CEO of Bank of China USA. It convened more than 800 individuals from various social groups.
November 17, 2015, evening, this film arrived at the Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C. The screening event was attended by Wu Xi, DCM & Minister of Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C., Ilan Sztulman, Minister of Israeli Embassy in Washington D.C., Jeffrey Stone, Chairman of Asia Pacific Institute of American Jewish Committee, and more than 200 representatives from government, congress, think tanks, and various social groups.
This documentary film covers the dark history during World War II when more than six million Jews were brutally massacred by the Nazis. Against this backdrop, Shanghai had received more than 25,000 Jewish refugees from Europe. In order to commemorate this segment of history, Shanghai Media Group had then made the film “Survival in Shanghai”. It is the largest action that was taken by Chinese television media to find the Jewish refugees and their descendants who survived Shanghai Ghetto. The entire production process lasted eight months, with film clippings from Germany, Austria, Untied States, and Israel, where about 40 survivors were interviewed.
The film consists of three 30-minute episodes, telling the every-day life of Jewish refugees in Shanghai Ghetto. Apart from the personal narratives, the film collected a large amount of archived material from Jewish Museum in Germany, Sachsenhausen concentration camp, Museum of Military History in Austria, The Holocaust History Museum in Israel, and many others. Among them, many documents, photos, and videos were firstly introduced to the public.
Following the debut, this film will be shown in 50 universities across the United States.