Survivors of Genocide

For more than 18 years, our work has ensured that we bear witness to atrocities, again and again, so as not to repeat them. As we reflect on the first half of 2026, we are reminded of an extraordinary evening this past winter, when our founder and creative director, Jane Wells, participated in a special staged reading of The Film. This event during the 75th anniversary of Jewish Book Week in London brought audiences together to explore the making of the most significant cinematic records of the Holocaust.

Playwright Martin Jameson's compelling play tells the story behind the making of the landmark 1945 Holocaust documentary, produced by Sidney Bernstein, with legendary director Alfred Hitchcock serving as treatment adviser. As a Ministry of Information film crew entered the recently liberated Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, they captured footage that would become some of the most important visual evidence of the Holocaust. Released decades later as German Concentration Camps Factual Survey, the play explores the immense responsibility of documenting such atrocities and ensuring they are never forgotten.

Following the performance, Jane joined Martin, Imperial War Museums Senior Curator Toby Haggith, and documentary filmmaker Tim Samuels for a thoughtful panel discussion examining the continued role of film in preserving memory. As the daughter of Sidney Bernstein and through her own extensive research into the unfinished documentary, Jane offered a unique perspective on the film's legacy and its relevance today.

3 Generations is dedicated to documenting the harrowing stories of genocide survivors.  Eight decades after the liberation of Bergen-Belsen, the questions raised by The Film remain profoundly relevant. At a time of Holocaust denial and rampant discrimination, the responsibility to preserve testimony has never been greater. For information about the issues we support and to watch our films, please visit 3generations.org, follow us on social media @3_Generations, or subscribe to our mailing list. We thank you for your support.