Anne Frank Day Awards Ceremony and Short Film Screening

Join us in celebrating Anne Frank Day during Jewish American History Month. The event, presented by Anne Frank LA, honors the legacy of Anne Frank, whose powerful message of tolerance, strength, and hope in the face of adversity teaches us not only that discrimination and intolerance are wrong and dangerous but also that young voices matter.
This important and meaningful event begins with an award presentation ceremony honoring Trudie Strobel, a Holocaust survivor and tapestry artist, followed by student winners, ages 12 to 18, of the Anne Frank Day Your Story Matters Essay Contest. The afternoon concludes with a screening of two short films, Anne and The Anne Frank Gift Shop (winner of multiple film festival awards and shortlisted for the 2024 Academy Awards). Guests are invited to stay for a Q&A with the filmmakers to discuss the relevance of Anne Frank today.

Anne Frank LA: Anne Frank LA is a local non-profit organization that creates and presents innovative, educational, and cultural programs and community events that further the legacy of Anne Frank. AFLA programs enable learners of all ages to better understand the dangers of prejudice and discrimination, the importance of democracy, and how to become upstanders rather than bystanders. Anne Frank LA was awarded the 2023 California Humanities Civics + Humanities Middle Grades grant for its educational exhibit, Anne Frank — A History for Today. Anne Frank LA presents its second annual Anne Frank Day in partnership with the Anne Frank Fonds, Basel, Switzerland, the Los Angeles Public Library, Central Library, and Reboot Studios. Anne Frank LA also acknowledges the support of the Anne Frank House, Amsterdam, Netherlands, the Anne Frank Center at The University of South Carolina, and The Anne Frank Center USA, New York.
Trudie Strobel: Trudie Strobel is a Holocaust survivor whose intricate tapestries bear witness to the mass atrocities committed by the Nazis. Stitch by stitch, she illustrates her horrifying childhood in a concentration camp, exposing the inhumanity of genocide while telling a cautionary tale still relevant today. Her work provides an enduring lesson, not only in the importance of Holocaust remembrance, the danger of indifference, and the consequence of silence in the face of evil, but also in the necessity for tolerance, respect, and peace. Trudie’s life is a profound testament to the strength of the human spirit, the healing power of art, and the foremost reminder that the future is in our hands.

Anne Frank Day Your Story Matters Essay Contest: Over eighty years ago, a 13-year-old girl in Amsterdam named Anne Frank sat down and wrote her first entry in a red-checkered diary. Today, Anne has become the most famous young author of all time, and her diary, published in 1952 as The Diary of a Young Girl, is one of the most widely read books in the world. Translated into more than 70 languages, it is seen as a symbol of the nearly 1.5 million Jewish children who perished during the Holocaust.
An astute author and editor, Anne’s carefully chosen words helped shape her legacy. Her diary is a testament to why the voices of young people matter. The Anne Frank Day Your Story Matters Essay Contest, designed and judged by members of the AFLA board, asks students ages 12 to 18 to either choose one of three pre-selected quotations or pick one of their own choosing from Anne’s diary to connect her words to their own experiences using an essay format.
May 12, Anne Frank Day Declared in the City of Los Angeles and Burbank: In 2022, inspired by Anne Frank’s story, 10-year-old Olivia Prince, with the support of Anne Frank LA, approached Councilmember Paul Koretz (5th District) about declaring an official day to honor Anne’s legacy ¾, and he agreed. On April 26, 2022, the Los Angeles City Council adopted a resolution declaring May 12 to be Anne Frank Day in the City of Los Angeles. The day honors Anne, her father Otto (whose birthday is May 12), and the nearly 1.5 million children who perished during the Holocaust. On May 12, 2023, Mayor Konstantine Anthony proclaimed Anne Frank Day in Burbank.

Short Film Screenings:

Anne (10-minutes)
Two actresses have made it to the final callbacks to play Anne Frank in an upcoming staged production of The Diary of Anne Frank, but as the topic of color-blind casting makes its way into the audition room, a controversial conversation emerges. ANNE is a film that aims to explore the nuances within cultural representation and why the importance of stories like Anne Frank's continues to be told. Is it more important to accurately “be” something or to accurately “represent” something? Is “authenticity” synonymous with perception? And, as storytellers, how do we define the difference between empathy and appropriation? These are the questions raised through the eyes of two women both “right” for the role. Desiree Abeyta, Director; Adi Eshman, Writer; Starring Samanthia Nixon and Natasha Roland.
The Anne Frank Gift Shop (15-minutes)
A 2023 dark comedy about anti-Semitism that packs a vital and timely message. When a high-end design firm presents its plans to reimagine the gift shop at The Anne Frank House, the company's overt appeal to Generation Z sparks a debate about collective trauma, the Holocaust, and tote bags. Winner, Best Narrative Short, 2023 San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. Audience Award, Best Short, Santa Barbara Jewish Film Festival, and Philadelphia Jewish Film and Media Festival. Shortlisted for the 2024 Academy Awards. Mickey Rapkin, Director/Writer; Noam Dromi and Greg Zekowski, Producers. Starring Ari Graynor, Chris Perfetti, Kate Burton, Jason Butler Harner, Mary Beth Barone, and Josh Meyers.
Important Parking Note: Library card holders can validate their parking ticket with their physical library card at the information desk. The parking fee with validation will be $1 for tickets issued after 1 p.m.

This program was made possible with the generous support of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

For ADA accommodations, call (213) 228-7430 at least 72 hours prior to the event.

Para ajustes razonables según la ley de ADA, llama al (213) 228-7430 al menos 72 horas antes del evento.

Host or Publisher Los Angeles Public Library