ABOUT THE PROJECT

LOGLINE
Sensing her time is near, Elizabeth Mann, 97, struggles to finish her final painting as the memories of her family and her time in the Auschwitz extermination camps flood come flooding in.

SYNOPSIS
This documentary film follows the Holocaust survivor, Elisabeth Mann, as she tries to complete her final painting at 97 years of age. Elisabeth paints the images and faces she can never forget from what she endured in the concentration camps. The film incorporates Elisabeth’s stories from her time as a teenager in Auschwitz—the largest and most grotesque killing machine devised to execute a mass genocide, which took the lives of her family members. When asked how she could remain motivated while suffering so excruciatingly, Elisabeth accredits her optimism as the saving power.

At her present age, Elisabeth knows that time is running out as she struggles to complete one final painting. As memories come flooding in, she recalls all these years of struggle with the guilt of being the only survivor within her family and the subsequent challenges of trying to build a new life and a family of her own in America.

Elisabeth strives to help the next generation learn from her experiences, in hopes that the past will not be repeated.

As filmmakers, we will “finish” the last painting on Elisabeth’s behalf, in order to share her story with the world. Using the vivid description that Elisabeth provided of what the painting should be—we will bring that vision to life using live animation. The film will combine her paintings and her memories—and as those paintings come to life, they will begin illustrating her story, depicting the message that Elisabeth hopes to divulge.

PROJECT TYPE Documentary Feature

DIRECTOR Meital Cohen Navarro
PRODUCER Meital Cohen Navarro
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Mahsa Shamsa

The Film Collaborative (TFC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing programs and services for independent filmmakers. TFC’s federal tax ID number is 32-0295081. All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Support a TFC Fiscal Sponsorship Project

Please help support this project with a tax deductible contribution. The “donate” button below will take you to PayPal, but a PayPal account is not required to make a donation. You can check out 2 ways:

1. Use your PayPal account
2. Check out as a guest by selecting “Donate with a Debit or Credit Card” (no PayPal account is required)

Transaction Fee

Please consider covering the PayPal transaction fee by selecting the “I’d like to add to my donation to help offset the cost of processing” box on the next page. This will ensure your intended full donation amount will be received for the project.

Alternate Donation Payment Methods

If you prefer to donate by check, Zelle, ACH, or wire transfer, please email us for instructions.

Stock Donations

TFC accepts stock donations. By donating stock that has appreciated for more than a year, you are giving 20% more than if you sold the stock and then made a cash donation, since you will not pay capital gains taxes on the donated stock. Learn more here.

Please email us for instructions to donate stock to a fiscally sponsored project.

Donor Advised Fund (DAF) Donations

A donor-advised fund, or DAF, is like a charitable investment account for the sole purpose of supporting charitable organizations. TFC accepts DAF donations and is on file with most major DAF companies. Provide your DAF TFC’s Tax ID: 32-0295081. If we are already on file with your DAF company, they will process the donation.

Tax Receipts

In compliance with IRS rules, tax receipts for your charitable gift are issued for the amount The Film Collaborative receives after payment processor fees are deducted. The Film Collaborative emails tax receipts in PDF format within 30 days of your online donation. The “receipt” that is immediately sent to you from PayPal after you donate is just a payment receipt, not the tax receipt.

Matching Donations

Many companies have matching gift programs and can help you double your donation to a project of your choosing. Sometimes these programs will match a donation up to a year after it was originally made! Check with your employer—if they have a matching gift program, they will provide you with instructions.

End of Year Giving

November, December, and January are big giving months each year. Donors top up their annual giving in November and December. January is a new fiscal year, and some donors start their giving for the next fiscal year early. Some donors even give at the end of the year and again in January since these donations fall into different fiscal years.

Donors tend to make their large year-end donation decisions before the holidays start. In 2024, that means before December 20. TFC can accept donations by wire, ACH, and Zelle until 5:00pm Eastern Time on December 31. Online donations by credit or debit card can be made until 11:59pm Pacific Time on December 31.