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Credits

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Starring

Synopsis

Adapted from the book 'I AM SASHA,' based on a true story.

When a young Jewish boy, Sasha, is caught in the midst of WWII, his desperate mother Larissa sorts fake papers for them to forge their identity, however, in order for this to work, Sasha will have to battle his identity in a vital growth period in his life to survive the war as a female, Sala.

Press Kit: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1xeFIdZRktnQtp3RXl6E1zSlDA8WF4cef

Director's Statement

This film is based on a book called ‘I AM SASHA’ written by Anita Selzer, the daughter of the holocaust survivor, Sasha. I was approached by the author with a copy of the book to create into a film that will raise awareness for her father and grandmothers story and their hardships throughout the terrors that was experienced during WWII. This film performs as a proof of concept to attract financing for the feature-film, currently being written alongside Post-Production for this short. As a young Jewish woman, raised on the stories of my ancestors constant struggle against adversity, anti-semitism and the Holocaust which wiped out 6 million Jewish people, I feel responsible as a story-teller to speak for those who can no longer tell their stories and survived the horrors of such events. This film is a proof of concept for a Feature Film.

Lexee Paige Gordoun Director

What makes this one special

Nominated in 5 AFIN categoriesBest Australian Film · Best Australian Supporting Performance · Best Emerging Female Director · Best Produced Screenplay · Best Production Design

From the Judges

Set during history's darkest hour, this short revisits the wartime sacrifices of people forced into desperate strategies to survive under fascist rule. The period world is realised with real conviction, its production and costume design lending the drama a lived-in authenticity, and the panel found the whole cast wholly believable in their roles. It struck them as remarkably well realised, a period piece carried by assured direction, evocative cinematography, and a score that gives the emotion room to land.

Curated, anonymised highlights drawn from the judges' notes.

Director's Biography

Lexee Paige Gordoun Director

Lexee Gordoun is a Writer, Director and Producer, born and raised in Sydney, Australia. She graduated with a bachelor degree in Film and TV Production at JMC Academy in 2021. Lexee film's tend to share a deep focus on characters and their psychology. Her stories are centred around the vulnerabilities of men or female strength - shedding light on the unspoken difficulties and creating a voice for the unheard with a slightly hyper-real tone. Lexee creates films as a toast to the "outsiders and the mis-understood." Lexee believes that a director-actor relationship is not just a professional relationship, but rather a very intimate and sensitive relationship that must be handled with care and allow for a safe place for actors to share their vulnerabilities and emotions. This enhances their performances, building a relationship on the foundation of trust and respect.

Trailer

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SASHA'S GAME was Winner of Best Costume Design, Best Director and Best Supporting Performance and a Nominee for Best Australian Film, Best Australian Supporting Performance, Best Emerging Female Director, Best Produced Screenplay and Best Production Design at the AFIN International Film Festival 2024, a Top 100 Best Reviewed and IMDb-qualifying festival.

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Stills

Best Costume Design

Best Director

Best Supporting Performance

Best Australian Film

Best Australian Supporting Performance

Best Emerging Female Director

Best Produced Screenplay

Best Production Design