TITLE
Chava
LENGTH
Feature Film
BUDGET
$350,000
FORMAT
16MM Film
WHEN HATRED TEARS HER FAMILY FROM THEIR HOME,
A YOUNG GIRL
MUST BECOME THEIR SHIELD, THEIR VOICE, AND THEIR LAST TETHER TO A FAITH THE WORLD IS TRYING TO SILENCE.
In 1940 Poland, as war swallows their village, fifteen-year-old Chava is entrusted with an unthinkable task: to lead her younger siblings to safety while her parents stay behind. Bound by a sacred vow to her father, she must step out of
childhood and into a world that demands impossible choices. Across a landscape stripped of certainty and faith, Chava clings to the fragile threads of family, tradition, and memory, even as each step away from home carries her deeper into the unknown. Chava is the story of a girl who must become more than a survivor, she must become the keeper of her family's soul, at the very moment the world threatens to erase them.
THE CHARACTERS
Chava, a resilient 15-year-old girl, is the anchor of her family. Her strength and determination are tested as she navigates the terrifying landscape of Nazi-occupied Poland. Despite her young age, Chava's bravery and quick thinking make her a beacon of hope and survival for her siblings. Her journey is one of growth, as she transitions from a sheltered child to a fierce protector, embodying the spirit of resistance against unimaginable horrors. Chava looks up to her father, Abram, for guidance, as they share similar interests and thought patterns, making them two peas in a pod. This special bond with her father fuels her resolve and shapes her approach to the challenges they face.
INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY
When the Nazis invaded MÅ‚awa in 1939, my great-great aunt and uncle faced an unthinkable choice: send their children away alone into the unknown, or risk
all their lives together. In a world collapsing overnight, they chose sacrifice — a decision made not in safety, but under the weight of terror, hope, and love more fierce than fear. They stayed behind to protect what little they had left, believing, perhaps, they had time. But time was a lie. Their children sailed into an uncertain future; the parents disappeared into the machinery of ghettos and camps, their final moments lost to history. Yet because of that choice — because of their brutal, wrenching act of love — generations survived. I am here because of them. Every heartbeat of my life is an echo of their courage, and the cost of it. Their absence is not history to me; it is inheritance.
Chava is not just a story set in the Holocaust, it is my family’s soul turned into film. It is the retelling of a sacrifice so immense it tore a family apart to save it. Through Chava’s eyes, the audience steps into the breathless terror of leaving home, the unbearable weight of responsibility placed on a child’s shoulders, and the fierce, sacred vow to protect what little remains. This story is not abstract. It is carved into my blood, my name, my very existence. Chava stands as a testimony: to the families who made impossible choices, to the children who carried those choices across continents and generations, and to the urgent, enduring cry — Never Again.
WHY NOW
Chava’s story is timeless, but never more urgent. Across the world, families are once again forced to flee their homes, torn between survival and identity, safety and soul. Chava speaks to the heartbreak of that choice through a specifically Jewish lens, where memory is a form of resistance and survival is never just about staying alive, it’s about carrying something sacred forward. In a world still learning the cost of forgetting, this film is a whisper of "L’dor v’dor" from generation to generation, a vow passed down in blood and breath. Chava reminds us that history lives in the body, and in the silence between prayers, and that to tell these stories now is to refuse erasure, to protect what was, and to claim what must still be.
Meet The Team
The story of "CHAVA" ignites the deepest fire within Charli. Rooted in her own heritage, this narrative resonates on a profound level. It’s a story that beckons to be shared with the world, and infused with every ounce of passion and dedication that courses through her. Charli is not just telling a story — she is honoring her ancestors by sharing a tale that only she can tell. Chari's love for filmmaking could never be articulated in words, but will be evident in every frame of "CHAVA,". It’s her deepest hope that this passion and ancestrally passed-down resilience shines through bright, unyielding, and everlasting through every millimeter of celluloid.
SHOOTING ON 16MM FILM
There’s nothing more beautiful than shooting on film. Choosing 16mm for Chava is both an artistic and emotional decision; one that grounds the story in lived memory while elevating the craft. The texture and grain evoke a tactile sense of the past, allowing history to feel present, immediate, and alive. Film creates literal magic on set and on screen; it invites intentionality, increases precision, and captures something digital never can: the quiet soul of an image. For a story rooted in survival, legacy, and human connection, 16mm doesn’t just enhance the visuals, it honors the truth.
PRODUCTION DETAILS
FEATURE LENGTH
A lean 93-page screenplay crafted for engaging emotional impact, built to deliver a tightly paced, immersive feature experience.
SHOT ON 16MM FILM
Captured on grain-rich 16mm film to evoke a timeless, tactile atmosphere, grounding the story in a physical, breathing world.
50+ SPEAKING PARTS
Dozens of voices intertwine to build an intimate, yet sweeping portrait of a community on the edge of destruction.
12 PRODUCTION DAYS
A bold, twelve-day shoot in Georgia, where every location is handpicked for its haunting authenticity and every shot pushes the story.
Though we have already received many generous donations in terms of equipment and man-hours, we still need more. Namely, we need to purchase 16mm film, 200+ period costumes, and properly accommodate our diligent cast and crew totaling 120+ people.
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$180 - Get the recognition you deserve!
Go down in history as a proud supporter of Chava by receiving a "Special Thanks" credit in the end scroll. The bragging rights are all yours.
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Join us on set as an "Extra"
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A Ticket to the Premiere
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A Frame of Film
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Digital Picture Book from the set of CHAVA
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$360 - "Excuse me, VIP coming through!"
Your reserved seats complete with popcorn and a drink await! Use your Two VIP tickets to the World Premiere of Chava to view the film from the best seats in the house.
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"Special Thanks" Credit
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Join us on set as an "Extra"
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A Frame of Film
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Digital Picture Book from the set of CHAVA
$540 - “I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille.”
Waiting for your big break? Today’s the day! Climb into your period wardrobe and get ‘camera-ready’ for your role as a Featured Player in a crucial scene in the film.
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Two VIP Tickets
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"Special Thanks" Credit
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A Frame of Film
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Digital Picture Book from the set of CHAVA
All donations to CHAVA are tax-deductible as allowed by the IRS.
The Grateful Film Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is our Fiscal Sponsorship partner.
EXT. BACKYARD - DAWN
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The backdoor of the Vagodsky house clicks shut and Chava breath shutters.
CHAVA
We’re okay... We’re going to be okay.
INT. HIDING SPOT - DAY
Chava crouches in the cramped space. Her eyes dart around; Chava doesn't let herself breathe.
EXT. COURTYARD - DAY
We look out into the now empty courtyard where thousands of Jews were herded and marched away. The ironic beauty of the lush green courtyard contrasts sharply with the devastation that just unfolded, a silent witness to the horrors experienced by our friends and family.
EXT. COURTYARD - DAY
Soldiers bark orders as thousands of Jews are herded into the courtyard like cattle. The noise of shuffling feet and desperate cries fill the air. Loved ones hold each other tighter.
"CHAVA" PROOF OF CONCEPT TRAILER
"CHAVA" PROOF OF CONCEPT
BEHIND THE SCENES: THE PROOF OF CONCEPT
