Alsop High premieres powerful Holocaust film
by Educate Magazine April 5, 2017 · All News / Secondary School News
A powerful film made by the grandson of a Holocaust survivor has premiered at Alsop High School yesterday (Tuesday 4 April).
Filmmaker Darren Richman produced a moving short film titled “84303” about his grandad Zigi Shipper, his time at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp and his path to freedom.
The screening at Alsop High marks the film’s northern premiere and was held as part of the school’s FAITH 2017 initiative.
After the screening, Zigi Shipper BEM delivered his Auschwitz Survivor testimony followed by a question and answer session, to enable students to better understand the nature of the Holocaust and to explore its lessons in more depth.
The visit was part of the Holocaust Educational Trust’s extensive all year round Outreach Programme, which is available to schools across the UK.
‘Powerful reminder’
The film was named “84303”after the number Zigi was known as by his captors at the concentration camp.
Mr Joe Mangan, headteacher at Alsop High School, says: “It is a privilege for us to welcome Zigi Shipper to our school and his testimony will remain a powerful reminder of the horrors so many experienced.
“We are grateful to the Holocaust Educational Trust for co-ordinating the visit and we hope that by hearing Zigi’s testimony, it will encourage our students to learn from the lessons of the Holocaust and make a positive difference in their own lives.”
Karen Pollock MBE, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust says, “Zigi’s story is one of tremendous courage during horrific circumstances and by hearing his testimony, students will have the opportunity to learn where prejudice and racism can ultimately lead.”
‘Important lessons’
Educate’s executive editor, Kim O’Brien, who went along to the screening, says: “It was an incredibly powerful evening watching the film and listening to Zigi’s moving testimony. Zigi’s message to not hate and treat everyone the same is still relevant today and is more important than ever given the headlines we hear every day.
“It’s fantastic to see a North Liverpool school take the lead on a project of this kind and educate children about the Holocaust and the important lessons to be learned from it.”
